Blade Making Patents (Class 29/889.7)
  • Patent number: 11905845
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for repairing a blade for a turbomachine that has been damaged due to foreign object impact. Machine learning algorithms are used to determine an amount of material to be removed from one or more damage locations and determine an amount of material addition to the damaged portion(s) and/or at other locations on the blade to keep the natural frequencies of the repaired blade within design limits during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Daniel Gillaugh, Alexander Kaszynski, Jeffrey Brown
  • Patent number: 11885235
    Abstract: An internally cooled turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine includes a serpentine channel extending within the turbine blade for flowing cooling air through the interior of the blade. The turbine blade includes turbulators positioned within the serpentine channel to cause or increase turbulence of the cooling air flowing through the serpentine channel, increasing the heat transfer between the turbine blade and the cooling air before exiting a plurality of air outlets within the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Calixtro, Alex D. Wong, Yanhu Guo
  • Patent number: 11873571
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for coating a component, wherein the component has a first and a second surface, and wherein the first and the second surface adjoin each other at an edge, in which method i) first of all, the edge between the first and the second surface is rounded, and ii) subsequently, a coating is applied to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Josef Linska, Richard Auracher, Alexander Gast
  • Patent number: 11826854
    Abstract: An apparatus for 3D laser printing and a method for fusing a metal material with control of a melt pool on a substrate are provided. The apparatus contains a metal wire or powder feed unit and a plurality of laser sources symmetrically arranged on the surface of an imaginary hemisphere. Each laser source contains a laser with a laser beam focusing lens that focuses the laser beam in a focal point at a given distance from the focusing lens. The laser source is also provided with CPU/GPU-controlled devices for independently shifting each laser or a group of lasers along the optical axis and/or for tilting the lasers relative to the longitudinal axis of the source housing so that heating or fusing can be performed by placing the focal points of the lasers selectively at any point of the material or on a substrate for forming and controlling the melt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: John Mehmet Ulgar Dogru, Anton Vedeshin
  • Patent number: 11814742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing a component, wherein the component comprises at least one opening in a surface thereof, the method comprising: placing the component in an electrophoretic fluid comprising particles of a masking material as an electrode, applying a voltage to the component and a counter electrode of the component, depositing particles of the masking material in the electrophoretic fluid into the at least one aperture through electrophoresis to mask the at least one aperture; processing a surface of the component; and removing the masking material in the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sheng Xu, Yanfei Gu, Dalong Zhong
  • Patent number: 11802544
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind power installation with a longitudinal direction in which the rotor blade extends, at least one first rotor blade segment with a first end face, and at least one second rotor blade segment with a second end face, wherein the first rotor blade segment is coupled on the end face in the longitudinal direction to the second rotor blade segment, wherein the first and second rotor blade segments each comprise: a blade laminate with a plurality of laminate layers which are arranged stacked in a profile thickness direction, and arranged on the end face, a plurality of mounting elements for coupling the first rotor blade segment to the second rotor blade segment, wherein each of the mounting elements extends in the longitudinal direction and has two contact faces which are arranged transversely, in particular orthogonally to the longitudinal direction at a distance from one another which diminishes in non-linear fashion towards the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Falk Spieth
  • Patent number: 11759894
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a wind turbine blade having a blade body including a body part and a tip part, the blade being produced by using a mold, wherein a prefabricated tip part having a first connection interface is arranged adjacent to the mold for producing the body part, whereby building elements for building the body part are arranged in the mold providing a second connection interface which corresponds to and connects to the first connection interface, whereafter both connection interfaces are fixed by applying a fixing agent and curing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Soeren Randrup Daugaard Henrichsen, Mogens Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11732693
    Abstract: A tower and a wind turbine and be able to shoot water from the center point of a three to five blade wind turbine in a concentrated direction and from the blades to disperse water/fire retardant in a light to heavy spray from the tips of the blades covering a wider area for creating clean energy and suppressing wildfires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: John Morgan
  • Patent number: 11719110
    Abstract: A guide vane for a vane assembly of a turbo machine, the guide vane can include: an aerofoil body including: a forward portion, a rear portion, and opposite outer surfaces, extending between the forward portion and the rear portion, a liner shaped with a sheet like geometry, the liner being configured for being fixed to the aerofoil body, the liner including: a first portion configured for being connected to the forward portion of the aerofoil body, a trailing edge portion shaped with a convex geometry, a first coupling portion extending between the first portion and the trailing edge portion, and configured for being fixed to an outer surface of the aerofoil body, a second portion extending from the trailing edge portion and configured for being connected to the rear portion of the aerofoil body, wherein when the first coupling portion of the liner is fixed to an outer surface of the aerofoil body: the trailing edge portion of the liner extends from the rear portion of the aerofoil body, and the second porti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ITP NEXT GENERATION TURBINES, S.L.
    Inventor: Mikel Villaro Amurrio
  • Patent number: 11708764
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a TiAl alloy impeller includes a blank preparation step in which a blank of the TiAl alloy impeller is prepared, wherein the blank has a shaft portion and a plurality of blades, and a thickness of an outer edge of each of the blades of the blank is set so as to be larger than a thickness of an outer edge of a blade of the TiAl alloy impeller, and an additional work step in which an additional work is performed on each of the blades of the blank. In the additional work step, the additional work is performed on a first surface of a portion that includes at least the outer edge of each of the blades or the first surface and a second surface of the portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Tatsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11703281
    Abstract: A method for forming large titanium parts includes forming bends into a titanium plate for form a bent part. The bent part is then roll-formed to form contours into the bent part. The surfaces of the contoured part are rough-machined, and the part is then secured to a bladed form fixture. The bladed form fixture comprises a plurality of header boards that secure the part to the fixture. The fixture part is placed in a thermal vacuum furnace and a stress-relieving operation is performed. The part is removed from the fixture and final machining takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: DUCOMMUN AEROSTRUCTURES, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Pirie, Ignacio Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11661861
    Abstract: A bi-metal variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) vane includes a structural, airfoil-shaped flag portion, and a functional, cylindrically-shaped shaft portion connected to the flag portion. The flag portion and the shaft portion are formed of a first metal alloy, and the shaft portion further includes a surface area formed of a second metal alloy different from the first metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Balon, Philippe Renaud
  • Patent number: 11614069
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise, whereas the internal support structure of the second blade segment includes a receiving section that receives the beam structure of the first blade segment. Further, the rotor blade includes at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the beam structure and the receiving section at the chord-wise joint so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. The rotor blade includes at least one additional support member that receives a portion of the chord-wise extending pin so as to reduce a chord-wise bending deflection of the chord-wise extending pin at the chord-wise joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Mitchell Rodwell, Thomas Merzhaeuser
  • Patent number: 11598348
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan blade (1) comprising: —an aerofoil (8) made of a composite material comprising a fibrous reinforcement densified by a polymer matrix, a leading edge (4) and a trailing edge (5), and —a structural shield (10) fitted and attached to the leading edge (4) or the training edge (5), and —at least one stiffener (20) formed integrally and in one piece with the structural shield (10), said stiffener (20) extending in a cavity (15) formed between the shield (10) and the leading edge (4) or the trailing edge (5) so as to increase a stiffness of the blade (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Thomas Alain De Gaillard, Benjamin Bulot, Eddy Keomorakott Souryavongsa
  • Patent number: 11585225
    Abstract: The invention refers to a blade for a turbomachine comprising a shroud which is positioned on a tip side of the blade having an outer surface having at least one circumferential web arranged thereon, at least one pocket recessed in the outer surface and a hardfacing provided on at least one edge of the shroud wherein a pocket recessed in the outer surface is arranged adjacent to the hardfacing and a side face of the pocket joins the supporting wall with a radius corresponding at least to the length of the shorter extension of the supporting wall and at most to 1.5 times the length of the larger extension of the supporting wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof Skura, Christian Eichler, Lutz Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11555406
    Abstract: A turbine engine blade having an aerodynamic surface extending a first direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge and in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, between a root of the blade and a tip of the blade, the aerodynamic surface being made of a fiber-reinforced organic matrix composite material, and a metallic structural reinforcement bonded by an adhesive joint to the leading edge whose shape it follows and which has over its entire height a substantially V-shaped section with a base extended by two lateral flanks having a thinned profile at free ends directed toward the trailing edge, the adhesive joint being locally supplemented below the free ends of the lateral flanks by an elastomeric polymer introduced in the form of solid particles into the adhesive joint and adhered to the aerodynamic surface and/or the free ends of the lateral flanks during a polymerization phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Vincent Joudon, Franck Bernard Léon Varin
  • Patent number: 11542582
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a component of a ?-TiAl alloy, in which, in a first step, a forging blank made of a ?-TiAl alloy is built up from a powder material by an additive method, and subsequently, in a second step, the forging blank is reshaped into a semi-finished product, wherein the degree of reshaping over the entire forging blank is high enough that, in a third step, the structure is recrystallized during a heat treatment. In addition, the invention relates to a component produced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventor: Martin Schloffer
  • Patent number: 11499564
    Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly features a shroud barrel comprising an inlet, the radius of said inlet at its upstream end being greater than the radius of said inlet at its downstream end. An angle, in a plane including the fan axis, between the surface of said inlet and the direction of the fan axis varies non-monotonically with respect to a surface coordinate which increases with distance along the surface of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
  • Patent number: 11499523
    Abstract: A system (24) and method are described herein for manufacturing a wind turbine blade (22) proximate to the final installation site of a wind turbine (10). The system (24) includes a creel (72) of feeders (74) configured to apply strengthening elements (62) onto a plurality of shell core sections (26) coupled together and fed through the creel (72). The shell core sections (26) include an external surface (56) with a plurality of external grooves (58) recessed into the external surface (56) such that the strengthening elements (62) are laid into the external grooves (58). The system (24) also includes a deposition station (78) configured to apply an outer surface material layer (82) in fluid form to cover the external surface (56) and the plurality of strengthening elements (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Gerner Larsen, Allan Hjarbæk Holm, Julio Xavier Vianna Neto, Abdalla Khamas, Miguel Fernandez Perez
  • Patent number: 11454123
    Abstract: After a free-form surface is machined on an elongated material 1 with a projection 3 and a blade root 4 held, the holding of the projection 3 is released to release strain generated during machining. Upon release of the holding, the entire elongated material 1 deforms, and the projection 3 moves from a holding position A to a strain-released position B. A re-holding position C obtained by correcting the position B by the deformation amount of the elongated material 1 due to the weight of the elongated material 1 is determined, and the projection 3 is held again at the re-holding position C for further machining the free-form surface on the elongated material 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Nakanishi, Nobuo Shimizu, Haruhiko Asaka, Kazuya Matano
  • Patent number: 11448079
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas turbine nozzle capable of reducing stress related to thermal elongation caused by a rise in gas turbine nozzle temperature and thus reducing stress produced when thermal deformation occurs in the gas turbine nozzle. The gas turbine nozzle according to the present invention includes nozzles formed integrally through an inner perimeter end wall and an outer perimeter end wall. The inner perimeter end wall has an upstream connection portion and a downstream connection portion. The upstream connection portion extends radially inward to be connected to an inner perimeter diaphragm. The downstream connection portion is located downstream from the upstream connection portion and extends radially inward to be connected to the inner perimeter diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tate, Hironori Tsukidate, Kunihiro Oga, Yasuhiro Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11415105
    Abstract: A method of forming a wind turbine blade is provided which includes upper and lower blade mold halves, and a shear web having at least one aperture formed therein. A plurality of bulkheads are attached to the shear web and the shear web can be lifted and rotated, without need for a complex gantry/galactica apparatus, to be placed inside the lower blade mold. The upper mold half can then be closed with the shear web and bulkhead(s) disposed within the blade interior. A heating fluid can be pumped into the interior to pass through the bulkheads, circulating around the shear web and exiting the blade root with the assistance of a sump to pull the cold air outside the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TPI Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Karsten Schibsbye, Amir Salimi
  • Patent number: 11370181
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing composite components having complex geometries are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a method includes laying up each of a plurality of laminates to an initial shape with a substantially planar geometry or a gently curved geometry. Then, a laid up laminate is formed to a final shape for each predefined section defined by the composite component to be manufactured. Thereafter, the laminates formed to their respective final shapes are stacked to build up the complex geometry of the composite component. Next, the composite component can be cured and finish machined as necessary to form the completed composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stefaan Guido Van Nieuwenhove, Wendy Wenling Lin, Todd Alan Anderson, Shatil Sinha
  • Patent number: 11326575
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade and associated method of manufacture is described. The blade comprises an outer shell formed of first and second half shells joined together. A shear web is arranged inside the outer shell. The shear web has a web panel disposed between first and second longitudinally-extending mounting flanges. The shear web is bonded to inner surfaces of the respective half shells via a first adhesive bond line between the first mounting flange and the inner surface of the first half shell and a second adhesive bond line between the second mounting flange and the inner surface of the second half shell. One or more bond spacers are provided in the second bond line, and optionally in the first bond line. The bond spacers are compressed between a shear web mounting flange and an inner surface of a half shell and are plastically deformed. The method of making the shear web involves compressing and the one or bond spacers in the bond line(s) such that they undergo plastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Arne Haahr, Andrew Hedges, Morten Taulbjerg
  • Patent number: 11306595
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade, the method includes casting a nickel alloy blade precursor having an airfoil and a root. The airfoil and the root are solution heat treating differently from each other. After the solution heat treating, the root is wrought processed. After the wrought processing, an exterior of the root is machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dilip M. Shah, Alan D. Cetel, Venkatarama K. Seetharaman
  • Patent number: 11286550
    Abstract: A process includes applying a slurry to a surface of a metallic article to produce a slurry film on the surface. The slurry is composed of a liquid carrier, chromium and aluminum, and an agent that is reactive with the chromium and aluminum to form intermediary compounds. The article and slurry film are then thermally treated at an activation temperature at which the agent reacts with the chromium and aluminum to form the intermediary compounds. The intermediary compounds deposit the chromium and aluminum on the surface. The thermal treating also diffuses the chromium and aluminum into a sub-surface region of the article such that the sub-surface region becomes enriched with chromium and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael N. Task, Xuan Liu
  • Patent number: 11248477
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first portion welded to a second portion along an interface such that at least the first portion establishes an airfoil section and the second portion establishes a root section mountable to a rotatable hub. The airfoil section includes an airfoil body extending between leading and trailing edges in a chordwise direction, extending between pressure and suction sides separated in a thickness direction, and extending from the root section in a spanwise direction to a tip portion. A recessed region extends inwardly from at least one of the pressure and suction sides. The airfoil body includes at least one rib bounding a respective pocket within a perimeter of the recessed region. A cover skin is welded to the airfoil body along the at least one rib to enclose the recessed region. A method of forming a gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Dmitri Novikov, Robert C. Dolan, Eric W. Malmborg, Steven T. Gordon
  • Patent number: 11045906
    Abstract: A coaxial laser metal deposition head includes a wire guide and a plurality of laser optical units. The wire guide defines a wire guide axis. The laser optical units are distributed around the wire guide axis. Each of the laser optical units is connected to a separate laser and each defines a beam axis. The optical units are fixed relative to the wire guide and in a first condition are positioned to allow each of the beam axes to intersect the wire guide axis at a common point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace St. Louis LLC
    Inventor: Joshua A Crews
  • Patent number: 10968896
    Abstract: A connection and fastening unit for components of a lightning protection system, the connection and fastening unit being realized for the purpose of being integrated in a wind turbine rotor blade and for being connected to the components of the lightning protection system, wherein the connection and fastening unit includes a cavity which can be closed in an airtight manner and in which a connector for connection to at least one of the components of the lightning protection system is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Nordex Energy SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hendrik Klein, Thomas Lipka
  • Patent number: 10890195
    Abstract: A compressor airfoil of a turbine engine that has a geared architecture includes pressure and suction sides and extends in a radial direction from a 0% span position to a 100% span position. The airfoil has a relationship between a trailing edge angle and span position that defines a curve with a non-negative slope from 0% span to 20% span corresponding to a non-decreasing trailing edge angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Lisa I. Brilliant, Joseph C. Straccia, Stanley J. Balamucki, Mark A. Stephens, Kate Hudon
  • Patent number: 10815964
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade that can be easily lifted and lowered to and from a rotor installed atop a tower. The method includes providing a plurality of root inserts for a blade root of the blade and securing at least one cylindrical member to one of the root inserts such that the cylindrical member is substantially perpendicular with the root insert. The method also includes arranging the root inserts in a blade mold of the blade and forming a blade shell with the plurality of root inserts laminated therein. The method may further include securing at least one attachment component within each of the cylindrical members so as to provide an attachment location for a pulley cable used to lift and lower the rotor blade to and from the rotor installed atop the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ulrich Werner Neumann
  • Patent number: 10808543
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor defining an outer periphery; and a plurality of blades attached to the outer periphery. The plurality of blades includes a material property different than the other of the plurality of blades to provide mistuning of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Grelotti, Robert J. Morris
  • Patent number: 10808542
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas turbine engine component according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a cover skin to an airfoil body, the airfoil body and the cover skin cooperating to define pressure and suction sides of an airfoil, and moving the airfoil in a forming line including a plurality of stations. The plurality of stations include a set of heating stations, a deforming station and a set of cool down stations. The moving step includes positioning the airfoil in the set of heating stations to progressively increase a temperature of the airfoil, then positioning the airfoil in the deforming station including causing the airfoil to deform between first and second dies, and then positioning the airfoil in the set of cool down stations to progressively decrease the temperature of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Thomas DeMichael
  • Patent number: 10800071
    Abstract: Locking device for locking a movement side of a wind turbine blade mould to a floor at a desired level, the locking device having a first locking component for mounting to a floor surface and a second locking component adapted to be fitted to a movement side of a wind turbine blade mould to be locked by the locking device, wherein one of the first and second locking components includes a clamp engaging member, and the other of the first and second locking components includes an actuator and a clamp member coupled to the actuator, the clamp member being movable by operation of the actuator between a retracted position and an extended position, the clamp member including a clamp surface which in one of the retracted and extended positions is arranged to apply a clamping force on the clamp engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Gurit Tooling (Taicang) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qiang Gao
  • Patent number: 10801337
    Abstract: A steam turbine includes a platform (100) including a front part on an upstream side of the platform, a rear part opposite the front part, and a side part extending between the front part and the rear part; a vane (200) provided on an upper surface of the platform, the vane including a leading edge facing the front part and a trailing edge extending from the front part via the side part to the rear part; and a dovetail (300) formed integrally with the platform. The dovetail slant angle (DSA) is created when the horizon is drawn at an angle formed by a dovetail center axis (DCA) of the dovetail and a rotation axis (RA), and the stagger angle (SA) corresponds to an angle formed by the leading edge and the trailing edge of the vane. The dovetail slant angle is less than the stagger angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Min Soo Seo, Jung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10697441
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for making an equipotential bonding connection between two components of a lightning protection arrangement of a wind turbine rotor blade. The method includes providing a wind turbine rotor blade having two rotor blade half shells having respective connection and fastening units connected to corresponding ones of the two components of the lightning protection arrangement. A space is present in the interior of the rotor blade between the two connection and fastening units. A connection conductor is introduced from outside of the rotor blade through a through opening in one of the two connection and fastening units into the interior space of the wind turbine rotor blade. The two ends of the connection conductor are fastened to corresponding ones of the connection and fastening units such that the connection conductor bridges the interior space along an essentially linear imaginary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Klein, Thomas Lipka
  • Patent number: 10669856
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element includes an airfoil that has pressure and suction sides spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction and joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends in a radial direction a span that is in a range of 0.75-0.85 inch (19.1-21.6 mm). A chord length extends in a chordwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge at 50% span and is in a range of 0.56-0.66 inch (14.2-16.8 mm). The airfoil element includes at least two of a first mode with a frequency of 2740±10% Hz, a second mode with a frequency of 5956±10% Hz, a third mode with a frequency of 6554±10% Hz and a fourth mode with a frequency of 31959±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Warner, William R. Edwards, Mark David Ring, Sean Nolan, Ernest D. Casparie
  • Patent number: 10598158
    Abstract: A method for detaching or installing a rotor blade from or to a hub of a wind turbine includes positioning the rotor blade toward a ground location between a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position. The method also includes mounting a mechanical arm to an uptower location of the wind turbine. Further, the mechanical arm includes a torqueing tool at a distal end thereof. Thus, the method also includes removing or installing, via the torqueing tool, each of the plurality of hub fasteners so as to detach or attach the rotor blade from or to the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Howard Davidson, Stephanie Lohberg Willman, Santiago Murcia, Joshua Adam Klinghagen, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Michael Royce Johnson, Don Conrad Johnson, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Adam Sean Davis, Dean Thomas Roney, Kathleen Lynne Bentzel
  • Patent number: 10584598
    Abstract: A cantilevered airfoil includes, among other things, an airfoil having a body section and a tip, the body section extending in a first direction that is angled relative to a radial direction, the tip of the airfoil angled radially in a second direction relative to the body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Bintz, Peter T. Schutte, Brian J. Schuler, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 10436044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a guide vane cluster for a turbomachine, in particular for a turbojet engine, having at least two vanes that are joined together by way of at least one common platform for the radial delimiting of a flow channel of the turbomachine, wherein each vane has a vane element with a suction side and a pressure side that are joined together by a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the at least two vanes have different trailing edge wall thicknesses at least in a corresponding radial lengthwise extension region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Markus Schlemmer, Martin Pernleitner, Nina Wolfrum, Markus Brettschneider, Inga Mahle
  • Patent number: 10400611
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blade for a turbomachine a shroud for such a blade, and a turbomachine having at least one such blade. The blade comprises a shroud which is positioned on the blade tip side of the blade and is stiffened in the region of its surface by means of a stiffening structure having at least one longitudinal stiffening element such as a rib. The height of the longitudinal stiffening element varies in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AG
    Inventors: Marcin Kozdras, Krzysztof Skura, Piotr Lebiedowicz, Marek Szponar
  • Patent number: 10280781
    Abstract: An exemplary shroud milling method includes milling a convex side of a shroud, milling a concave side of the shroud, and holding a shroud within a common fixture when milling the convex side and when milling the concave side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Services PTE LTD.
    Inventor: Kim Wei Cheah
  • Patent number: 10280758
    Abstract: A composite vane for a low-pressure compressor of an axial-flow turbomachine, wherein the vane comprises a platform and an aerodynamic airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil extends into the primary flow of the turbomachine. The airfoil includes a body extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a reinforcement of the leading edge of the airfoil. The reinforcement comprises a reinforcing sheet, which extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and which is arranged in the thickness of the body in such a way as to reinforce it. In addition, the reinforcement comprises a shell forming the leading edge and which is integral with the sheet. The sheet is a titanium sheet, and the body includes a composite material having an organic matrix charged with fibers. This configuration improves the rigidity and the resistance to corrosion while lightening the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SA
    Inventor: Jean-François Cortequisse
  • Patent number: 10245678
    Abstract: A management method of a powder supply head in which supplied cladding metal is stabilized, and a method and apparatus for forming an erosion shield. The powder supply head has a double tube that supplies the cladding metal to a cladding portion and includes an inner tube that sprays a cladding metal used for cladding by welding and an outer tube that concentrically overlaps the inner tube and sprays a shielding air. The method including: spraying the cladding metal from the powder supply head to a test region; measuring a width of the cladding metal sprayed onto the test region; in a case where the measured width of the cladding metal is an allowance or smaller, determining that the powder supply head is usable, and in a case where the measured width of the cladding metal is greater than the allowance, determining that the powder supply head is unusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POPOWER SYSTEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Takehisa Okuda, Motonari Machida, Yasuo Matsunami
  • Patent number: 10211126
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing an object with microchannels provides therethrough, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a method of manufacturing a micro heat exchanger with microchannels provided therethrough. The method includes the steps of providing a metal base layer made from a first metal; forming a plurality of spaced apart ridges, made from a second metal, on the base layer; depositing more of the first metal onto the ridges in order to cover the ridges; and removing the ridges using a chemical etching process so as to produce microchannels in a body made of the first metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG
    Inventors: Agripa Hamweendo, Ionel Botef
  • Patent number: 10208602
    Abstract: A film cooled component may comprise a cooling chamber and a first ligament centered about a first axis. The first ligament may be in fluid communication with the cooling chamber. A first meter may be disposed at an end of the first ligament. A first diffuser may extend from the first meter to a surface of the film cooled component. The first diffuser may comprise a first tapered sidewall oriented at an angle of between 5 degrees to 15 degrees relative to the first axis. The first diffuser may further comprise a first non-tapered sidewall oriented at an angle less than 5 degrees relative to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lane Thornton, Ryan Alan Waite, Peter Balawajder, Benjamin F. Hagan
  • Patent number: 10066492
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade having a metal coupling root, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member cantilevered projecting from the coupling root; the airfoil-shaped oblong member being divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered projecting from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered projecting from a coupling head towards the coupling root and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a main plate-like body which is shaped and positioned between the two connecting fins to form an extension of the fins, and is butt-welded to the same connecting fins to form one piece with the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Pietro Rosa T.B.M. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Maurizio
  • Patent number: 10060277
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for use in a gas turbine engine having a plurality of blades attached to a rotor disk. Each blade is formed from a composite comprising ceramic matrix material. The blades each include a root that fits within dovetail slots of the rotor disk and cooperates with a blade retention assembly to couple the blades to the rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Z. Engel, Ted J. Freeman, Robert J. Shinavski, Ian Thomson
  • Patent number: 10046482
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a turbine engine blade out of composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the method including using multilayer weaving to make a first fiber that has a first portion forming a blade root preform and extended by a second portion, the second portion forming a tenon preform; using multilayer weaving to make a second fiber preform, the second preform including a first portion made up of two skins defining between them an internal housing, the first portion forming an airfoil preform, and a second portion extending from an outside surface of the skins, the second portion forming a platform preform; assembling the first preform with the second preform in the non-consolidated state by engaging the second portion of the first preform in the internal housing; and co-densifying the first and second preforms as assembled together in this way to obtain a turbine engine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: David Marsal, Clément Roussille, Jérémy Blachier
  • Patent number: 10047612
    Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing turbine blades (5; 7; 28; 33) made of a metal alloy. Starting with aluminum and titanium alloy bar (10; 34) having a simple and/or axisymmetric shape, at least two mutually interlocking blanks (2; 3; 4; 8; 11) are produced in the bar (10; 34) by waterjet cutting (16) and then each one of the blanks (2; 3; 4; 8; 11) thus obtained is machined separately in order to obtain the blades (5; 7; 28; 33) having a final profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Mechachrome France
    Inventors: Arnaud De Ponnat, Olivier Martin