With Shaft Connected Fluid Force Subjected Thrust Balancing Surface Patents (Class 415/104)
  • Patent number: 8807920
    Abstract: A pump assembly with a rotatable rotor shaft (10), wherein the rotor shaft (10) includes at least one axial bearing (36, 40) and a radial bearing (30, 32), which are integrated into a common bearing assembly (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventors: Helge Grann, Alfred Lisbjerg Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8801405
    Abstract: A sealless-type centrifugal pump includes a casing that forms a pump chamber having a liquid inflow port and an outflow port, an impeller disposed in the pump chamber and rotatably supported by a pivot bearing, and a magnetic coupling device including a driven permanent magnet built into the impeller and a driving magnet that rotationally drives the driven permanent magnet through a partition. The impeller supported in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the casing is driven by the magnetic coupling device, and pressure is applied to liquid introduced from the direction of the rotation axis through the inflow port to send the liquid through the outflow port in a radial direction. The magnetic coupling device is disposed on a line inclined from an impeller rotating surface to the inflow port side toward the center of the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Hoshi, Syogo Nakashima, Tatsuya Hidaka, Yasuharu Yamamoto, Takeshi Okubo
  • Publication number: 20140199161
    Abstract: A cooling mechanism for a steam turbine is provided, which has, in the area of the valve connection a cooling channel, into which cooling steam flows from the flow channel, the steam then being fed as cooling steam in the area of the thrust balance piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martina Holder, Christian Lenz, Norbert Pieper, Rudolf Potter, Dominic Schlehuber, Uwe Zander
  • Patent number: 8770952
    Abstract: A sealless-type centrifugal pump includes a casing that forms a pump chamber having a liquid inflow port and an outflow port, an impeller disposed in the pump chamber and rotatably supported by a pivot bearing, and a magnetic coupling device including a driven permanent magnet built into the impeller and a driving magnet that rotationally drives the driven permanent magnet through a partition. The impeller supported in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the casing is driven by the magnetic coupling device, and pressure is applied to liquid introduced from the direction of the rotation axis through the inflow port to send the liquid through the outflow port in a radial direction. The magnetic coupling device is disposed on a line inclined from an impeller rotating surface to the inflow port side toward the center of the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Hoshi, Syogo Nakashima, Tatsuya Hidaka, Yasuharu Yamamoto, Takeshi Okubo
  • Patent number: 8764377
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axial bearing (10) comprising at least one or more segments (18) on each of the front side (22) and the rear side (26) thereof, wherein the segments (18) on the opposite sides (22, 26) each are disposed at least partially offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Frankenstein, Dag Hauschild, Johann Hauser, Jochen Held, Stefan Nowack, Konrad Viessmann
  • Patent number: 8753068
    Abstract: A highly efficient and long-life pump is provided through improvement of pump efficiency by extending an effective length of a blade of an impeller and through reduction of friction loss of a thrust bearing. In a pump 110, a suction direction X and a discharge direction Y of a liquid are approximately perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Matsunaga, Hiroki Aso
  • Patent number: 8753069
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a shaft of a turbomachine. The apparatus may include a magnetic bearing to support the shaft during a normal operation of the turbomachine, and an auxiliary bearing to support the shaft during a drop event. The apparatus may also include a disk coupled to the shaft and comprising a substantially non-ferrous, conductive material, and a magnetic assembly disposed proximal the disk, the magnetic assembly configured to magnetically engage the disk to damp vibrations during the drop event, to apply a circumferential braking force on the disk during the drop event, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Martin D. Maier
  • Patent number: 8747053
    Abstract: A method for producing a lubricant feed in an axial bearing, wherein the lubricant feed is designed as a channel guiding lubricant from a lubricant pocket of the axial bearing, includes the following steps: preparing an initial axial bearing mold, stamping a groove in the area of the initial mold in which the channel is planned; embossing and putting through material on at least one or both sides of the groove along at least one segment of the groove; stamping the material on the side of the groove toward the groove so that the material and the groove form the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Frankenstein, Dag Hauschild, Johann Hauser, Jochen Held, Stefan Nowack, Konrad Viessmann
  • Patent number: 8734017
    Abstract: An air bearing shaft for an air cycle machine is provided. The air bearing shaft includes a seal disk and a shaft body. The shaft body includes a first shaft body portion extending from a face of the seal disk to a knife-edge seal. The first shaft body portion includes journal bearing cooling holes positioned axially closer to the knife-edge seal than to the face of the seal disk. The journal bearing cooling holes extend through the first shaft body portion to a hollow interior and have a total cooling area. Start-up holes are positioned axially closer to the face of the seal disk than to the knife-edge seal. The start-up holes extend through the first shaft body portion to the hollow interior. The start-up holes have a total start-up area. A ratio of the total cooling area to the total start-up area is between 2.17 and 4.06.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl A. Colson, Craig M. Beers, John H. Paliulis
  • Patent number: 8727718
    Abstract: A turbine rotor (1) for a gas turbine with a one-piece compressor housing (11) or a compressor housing (11) which is divided in a first plane, a one-piece turbine housing (12) connected to the compressor housing (11) or a turbine housing (12) which is divided in a second plane different from the first plane comprises a compressor area which includes at least two compressor disks (2.1-2.5) and a turbine area which includes at least one turbine disk (13.1, 13.2). The compressor disks and turbine disks are clamped together by a tie rod arrangement which includes at least one tie rod (6) which has a first fastening area, a second fastening area for clamping at least two compressor disks between the first fastening area and the second fastening area, and a third fastening area for clamping at least one turbine disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Emil Aschenbruck, Ralf Müller, Michael Blaswich
  • Patent number: 8678761
    Abstract: A pump device for applying a force opposing axial movement of a pump rotor shaft relative to a pump housing, the pump device having a first housing part, a second housing part axially moveable relative to the first housing part, and a biasing member coupled between the first housing part and the second housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Clyde Union Limited
    Inventor: John Toseland
  • Patent number: 8672611
    Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. LaRose, Charles R. Shambaugh
  • Patent number: 8672610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a unit assembly system for the manufacture of exhaust-gas turbochargers (1) for internal combustion engines, of motor vehicles in particular, wherein the respective exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) has at least one hydrodynamic axial plain bearing (6) for supporting axial forces of a turbine wheel and/or of a compressor wheel (5) on a housing (7), said axial plain bearing having with regard to an axis of rotation (3) of a shaft (2) supporting the turbine wheel and/or the compressor wheel (5) a plurality of wedge-shaped bearing segments (9) distributed in the circumferential direction, which bearing segments work together with at least one level, annular thrust surface (10, 11) that extends transversely to the axis of rotation (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Andreas Wengert
  • Publication number: 20140056689
    Abstract: Disclosed is a balance adjustment device of a rotating body including a body configured and structured to rotate based on a rotating axis; a fixation protrusion groove formed on the exterior circumference thereof; a balance ring, wherein a fixation protrusion is formed on an interior circumference of the balance ring that corresponds to the exterior circumference of the rotating body to be inserted into the fixation protrusion groove; and a balance weight formed on the balance ring to adjust the rotating balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jae Kwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140049906
    Abstract: A fan assembly for a computing device is disclosed. The device can include an impeller having a number of blades and a motor for turning the blades. The motor can turn the blades via a magnetic interaction between the impeller and the motor. A fluid dynamic thrust bearing can be used to control a position of the impeller relative to the motor. In particular, the impeller can be configured to rotate around an axis and the thrust bearing can be used to control movement of the impeller in a direction aligned with the rotational axis. In one embodiment, the thrust bearing can be configured to stabilize the impeller when vibratory forces act upon the fan assembly. More particularly, parameters associated with the thrust bearing can be selected to counteract vibratory forces emitted by a speaker system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Aiello, Jesse T. Dybenko, Brett W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20140044523
    Abstract: A torque converter for transferring torque from an input shaft to an output shaft, having a turbine wheel, an impeller connected to the input shaft to drive the turbine wheel hydrodynamically, a centrifugal force pendulum connected to the turbine wheel to damp torsional vibrations, a first torsion damper to drive the output shaft by means of the turbine wheel, and a converter clutch and a second torsion damper for selective torsionally damped coupling of the input shaft with the turbine wheel. One of the torsion dampers in this case includes two torsion damper elements, which are arranged in series with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin Voegtle, Benjamin Daniel, Thorsten Krause
  • Publication number: 20140037424
    Abstract: An improvement for a turbine generator or pump having main bearings separated by a span of shaft and a thrust equalizing mechanism adjacent one of said main bearings, the improvement comprising a stationary length compensator interposed between the thrust equalizing mechanism and its adjacent main bearing to reduce the span between said main bearings. Preferably the length compensator is composed of material that shrinks less than the shaft of the generator, and the height of the length compensator, i.e., the compensating dimension, is selected according to desired thrust equalizing mechanism operating parameters over a temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Ebara International Corporation
    Inventor: Joel V. Madison
  • Publication number: 20140030061
    Abstract: An improvement for a turbine generator or pump having main bearings separated by a span of shaft and a thrust equalizing mechanism adjacent one of said main bearings, the improvement comprising a stationary length compensator interposed between the thrust equalizing mechanism and its adjacent main bearing to reduce the span between said main bearings. Preferably the length compensator is composed of material that shrinks less than the shaft of the generator, and the height of the length compensator, i.e., the compensating dimension, is selected according to desired thrust equalizing mechanism operating parameters over a temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Ebara International Corporation
    Inventor: Joel V. Madison
  • Patent number: 8616831
    Abstract: A compressor includes a shaft assembly including a thrust disk disposed on a main shaft and a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions adapted to receive the shaft assembly and enclose the shaft assembly therebetween, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatably disposed within the housing, and wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes a shaft assembly retention feature for receiving the thrust disk to regulate a motion of the shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wollstadt, Grant William Brady, Gary L. Villeneuve
  • Patent number: 8568084
    Abstract: A system controls net thrust of a steam turbine having a stepped rotating shaft. A first leak off line fluidly couples a first stage of a turbine section to a packing near a stepped portion on the rotating shaft. A second leak off line fluidly couples a second stage of the turbine section that has a pressure different from the first stage to a step area immediately adjacent to the stepped portion, and a connection line fluidly couples the first leak off line to the second leak off line. The lines include control valves such that a controller can actively control the net thrust by regulating thrust pressure on the stepped portion using steam from the first and second stages of the turbine section. The controller may also prevent damage to an active retractable seal using the control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Casey William Jones, Binayak Roy
  • Patent number: 8568081
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping system having a pump, a motor, a shaft connecting the pump and motor. Coaxially stacked rotating impellers and stationary diffusers are coaxially housed within the pump. Radial ports are formed in a hub of the diffusers that direct fluid pressurized by an impeller to a cavity formed on the shroud of the impeller. Axial ports are formed in the shrouds of the impellers that direct fluid from the cavity to a fluid flow passage within the impeller. Strategic placement and sizing of the radial and axial ports balances thrust forces exerted onto the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Baojun Song, David Chilcoat
  • Publication number: 20130209225
    Abstract: Durable pumps for abrasives are provided. An example centrifugal pump stage for subsurface operation has a thrust washer located inside the circumference of an outboard clearance seal between an impeller shroud and the diffuser. Relocation of the thrust washer allows the clearance seal to protect the thrust washer from abrasives. A centrifugal action of an outboard seal lip effects a separation of the particles from the fluid nearest the gap of the outboard seal and drives the particles away from the gap of the outboard seal. When an abrasive particle in the leakage flow does clear the outboard seal, the particle is readily flushed across the thrust washer by the leakage flow to the central fluid inlet to prevent wear of the thrust washer. In an implementation, the inside diameter of the thrust washer is approximately flush with the bore of a central fluid inlet of the pump stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8496432
    Abstract: A compressor rotor compresses and delivers compressed air across a turbine rotor. The turbine rotor is connected to the compressor rotor such that rotation of the turbine rotor drives the compressor rotor. A shaft is connected to rotate with the turbine rotor and the compressor rotor. A thrust bearing is provided by a member extending perpendicular and radially outwardly of the shaft. The member rotates with the shaft and faces a first housing wall. A hollow chamber is formed on an opposed side of the first housing wall. A cooling air path supplies air across a thrust bearing surface, and between the member and the first housing wall. The first housing wall has a communication hole for communicating cooling air from the cooling air path into the hollow cavity to drive air within the hollow chamber. Also, a housing incorporating the communication hole is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Craig M. Beers, Brent J. Merritt, Victoria S. Richardson
  • Patent number: 8480352
    Abstract: A system controls net thrust of a steam turbine having a stepped rotating shaft. A first leak off line fluidly couples a first stage of a turbine section to a packing upstream of a stepped portion on the rotating shaft. A second leak off line fluidly couples a second stage of the turbine section that is subsequent to the first stage to a step area upstream of the stepped portion, and a connection line fluidly couples the first leak off line to the second leak off line. The lines include control valves such that a controller can actively control the net thrust by regulating thrust pressure on the stepped portion using steam from the first and second stages of the turbine section. The controller may also prevent damage to an active retractable seal using the control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Casey William Jones, Binayak Roy
  • Patent number: 8475114
    Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a shaft formed from end sections attached to a center section. The center section includes a first diameter that is supported on bearings within the air cycle machine and a second diameter that forms a part of an interface with a corresponding end section. The second diameter is less than the first diameter and extends an axial distance from an end of the center section and provides for the weld beam to be directed normal to the interface location such that weld quality and manufacturing efficiencies are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Rosen, Craig M. Beers, Robert M. Pragluski, Michael P. Rowley
  • Publication number: 20130121808
    Abstract: A liquid pump, in particular a water pump, comprises a pump housing, which has a thrust bearing seat, a bearing bolt and a bearing mounted on the bearing bolt. In this case, a thrust washer is arranged between the thrust bearing seat of the pump housing and the bearing. Furthermore, a flexible washer is arranged between the thrust bearing seat and the thrust washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • Patent number: 8434994
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor, a turbine downstream of the compressor having stators, and a rotor connecting the compressor to the turbine. The rotor includes rotor cavities. A supply plenum containing a process by-product gas and a control valve is connected to at least one of the rotor cavities to supply the process by-product gas to at least one of the rotor cavities. A process for operating a gas turbine having a compressor and a turbine includes connecting the compressor to the turbine by a rotor, creating cavities in the rotor, and injecting a process by-product gas into at least one of the cavities. The process further includes regulating the flow of the process by-product gas into at least one of the cavities according to a pre-programmed parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dipankar Pal, Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo
  • Patent number: 8425180
    Abstract: A steam turbine power plant that includes a first steam turbine, the steam turbine power plant including: a thrust piston operably connected to the first steam turbine via a shaft; and means for applying a supply of pressurized steam against the thrust piston such that the thrust piston applies a desired thrust force to the shaft. The desired thrust force may comprise a thrust force that partially balances a thrust force the first steam turbine applies to the shaft during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kristan B. Sears, Michael J. Bowman, John R. Powers
  • Patent number: 8366381
    Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular from the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: John Campbell Woodard, Peter Andrew Watterson, Geoffrey Douglas Tansley
  • Patent number: 8348595
    Abstract: A turbocharger oil discharge assembly (301, 501, 701, 901) can have a thrust collar (324, 524, 724, 924) with a first radially outwardly extending wall and a second radially outwardly extending wall to define a first annular channel. The first radially outwardly extending wall can have an annular flange that at least in part defines a second annular channel. The assembly can also have a thrust bearing (340, 540, 740, 940) having a radially inner end received in the first annular channel, and an insert (400, 600, 800, 1000). An oil collection chamber (440, 640, 840, 1040) can be defined at least in part by a drainage channel of the insert (400, 600, 800, 1000), the annular flange of the thrust collar (324, 524, 724, 924) and the thrust bearing (340, 540, 740, 940).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Silvio Koch, Edward R. Panek, Lauro Takabatake, Daniel Ward
  • Patent number: 8337142
    Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate pumping of fluids in a well environment. A submersible pumping system having a submersible pump incorporates features that manage thrust loads resulting from rotating impellers. The thrust reducing features cooperate with the action of the impellers in one or more pump stages to reduce forces otherwise acting on certain pump related components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Matthew R. Hackworth
  • Patent number: 8303248
    Abstract: An anti-torque mechanism which permits a full range of swashplate assembly motion. The anti-torque mechanism generally includes an anti-torque shaft and a compound bearing mounted thereto to provide five-degrees-of-freedom (spherical-linear-elastomeric) so as to permit a swashplate attachment point to move axially in response to pitch input; pivot in response to swashplate tilt; and move in/out in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro L. Cabrera, Stephen V. Poulin, Francis D. Federici
  • Patent number: 8262369
    Abstract: A submersible pump unit having a wet-running electric motor and only a single impeller can be driven by the electric motor with a rotation speed greater than 20,000 rpm. The rotor of the electric motor has a diameter of less than 25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventors: Kjeld Appel, Eigil D. Andersen, Jan Harding Gliemann, Christian Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8221070
    Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal pump that includes a disk-shaped shroud having a central axis, a front surface, a rear surface, and a circular perimeter, and a hub at the center of the shroud, the hub having an axial bore. The impeller further includes a first set of vanes on the front surface of the shroud, the first set of vanes extending radially inward from the perimeter towards the hub, a second set of vanes on the rear surface of the shroud, the second set of vanes extending radially inward from the perimeter towards the hub, a balancing area on the rear surface of the shroud, the balancing area extending radially outward from the hub, and a number of openings in the shroud, the number of openings configured to allow a fluid to pass from one side of the shroud to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Dmitriy Baryshnikov
  • Patent number: 8215898
    Abstract: A compressor rotor 6a and a turbine rotor 7a are respectively attached at either end of the main shaft 13 so that the compressor rotor 6a is driven by the power generated by the turbine rotor 7a. The main shaft 13 is supported by rolling contact bearings 15 and 16 relative to the radial direction. The thrust force applied to the main shaft 13 is supported by electromagnets 17. A sensor 18 is provided to detect the thrust force which affects the main shaft 13 through air within the compressor 6 and the expansion turbine 7. In the sensor 18, sensor elements having the properties changeable in accordance with a pressing force and capable to electrically detect the change in the properties are arranged in a circumferential direction of the main shaft. The sensor 18 detects the thrust force from the output of the sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tsugito Nakazeki, Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8206078
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a compressor and a turbine coupled to opposing ends of the shaft. The system includes a thrust collar including a cylindrical portion and a flange configured to radially extend from one end of the cylindrical portion. The thrust collar is configured to rotate with the shaft. A sensor is positioned within a separation of an outer surface of the thrust collar flange, and the sensor is configured to monitor the separation as indicative of the radial motion of the shaft. Additionally, a method is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kendall Roger Swenson, Daniel Edward Loringer, Larry Gene Anderson, James Robert Mischler, Kirk Heywood
  • Patent number: 8202037
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steam turbine comprising an exterior housing and an interior housing. The exterior housing and the interior housing are provided with a fresh steam supply duct. A rotor that encompasses several impeller blades and a thrust-compensating piston is rotably mounted within the interior housing. The interior housing is equipped with several guide blades that are disposed such that a flow duct comprising several blade stages, each of which comprises a series of impeller blades and a series of guide blades, is formed along a specific direction of flow. The interior housing is further equipped with a recirculation duct which is embodied as a pipe that communicates between a space located between the interior housing and the exterior housing and the flow duct downstream of a blade stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Deidewig, Yevgen Kostenko, Oliver Myschi, Michael Wechsung, Uwe Zander
  • Patent number: 8182201
    Abstract: There is provided an axial bearing load distribution system for a gas turbine engine of the type having a low pressure rotor supported by axial bearings. The system comprises a line having an inlet end positioned in a high-pressure compressor gas path downstream of any compressor stage provided with a variable geometry. The line is adapted to sense static pressure in the high-pressure compressor gas path. The line has an outlet end producing the static pressure. An air-tight pressure actuator is operatively connected to the outlet end and to one of the axial bearings to exert a force on the axial bearing proportionally to a pressure of the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, John Watson
  • Patent number: 8162596
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for supporting and adapting high pressure pumping apparatus for use on or in a marine vessel subject to direct dynamic motions imparted to the marine vessel without damaging the pumping apparatus to thereby extend the useful life of the pumping apparatus. For this purpose the method and apparatus is designed to prevent the deflection of the bearings by providing an axial support and radial damping to vibrations resulting from the motions imparted to the marine vessel. In addition, the pumping shaft is protected when inoperative by preventing the pumping shaft from rotation. Specifically the method and apparatus provide the suction vessel housing the high pressure pumping apparatus to be secured to the marine vessel's deck at all times along with the provision for absorbing the vibrations and stresses due to the marine vessel's movements imparted thereto by being subjected to the direct dynamic motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: EBARA International Corp.
    Inventor: Keijun Kamio
  • Patent number: 8157539
    Abstract: By inserting a protruding portion (8b), which is installed to a center position of a rear end surface (8x) of a fixed body (8), into a hole (4a), which is provided to a center position of an end surface (4x) on a side of a fixed body (8) of a fixed shaft (4) that is connected to a fixed body (3), the fixed bodies (3) and (8) and the fixed shaft (4) are connected. As a result, a sleeve (5) can be removed only by dismantling the fixed body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hidaka, Toshiyuki Osada, Takeshi Okubo, Yohei Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 8152493
    Abstract: A rotary blood pump may include one or more motor stators overlying exterior surfaces of a wall defining a pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller within the pumping chamber may have a hydrodynamic thrust bearing surface adapted to constrain a position of the impeller along an axis of rotation relative to the wall when the impeller is rotating about the axis of rotation. The impeller position may then be constrained without requiring a constant polarity magnetic force to be applied in the axial direction from a fixed position of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hearthware Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. LaRose, Charles R. Shambaugh, Jr., Daniel G. White, Lisandro Rivera, Kartikeyan Trichi, Palanivelu Thyagarajan, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8147178
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine centrifugal compressor axial forward thrust apparatus bleeds impeller tip aft bleed flow from between an annular centrifugal compressor impeller of a high pressure rotor and a diffuser directly downstream of the impeller. The apparatus then uses the aft bleed flow to pressurize an annular cavity extending radially between an inner combustor casing and the rotor and extending axially between forward and aft thrust balance seals. Forward and aft thrust balance lands are in sealing engagement with the forward and aft thrust balance seals on the high pressure rotor respectively. An annular stator plenum in fluid communication with the annular cavity is bounded in part by a forward end wall having conical diffusion holes therethrough which may be axially or circumferentially or axially and circumferentially angled. The forward thrust balance seal may be on an aft conical arm of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Ottaviano, Robert John Parks, John Lawrence Noon, Mark Michael D'Andrea, Thomas Michael Regan, Aaron Todd Williams
  • Patent number: 8133007
    Abstract: A multiple-stage centrifugal pump comprises a balancing drum coupled to the pump shaft, being axially locked, and turning in a pump body cavity with a minimum clearance; a rotary ring element mounted on the balancing drum and rotating therewith, but being able of axially moving with respect to the rotary shaft, and a fixed ring element mounted on the bottom of the body, a face of the rotary ring element having an annular surface and forming with the fixed ring element a radial breakage path therethrough the fluid flows, the outer diameter of the drum and rotary ring element forming an annular surface providing an axial pushing force, the outer diameter of the rotary ring element, forming a narrowed portion, being less than the diameter of the balancing drum, a pressure difference operating on these surfaces providing a contactless leakage between the rotary ring and fixed ring elements, the axial position of the rotary ring element depending on a combined action of two pushing forces, thereby providing a very
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Pompe Garbarino S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Marcelli
  • Publication number: 20120051952
    Abstract: A charging device for an energy conversion device, e.g., a fuel cell, of a motor vehicle, has a rotor rotatably mounted on a housing of the charging device, the rotor having a shaft and at least two compressor wheels which are connected in rotationally fixed fashion to the shaft. The compressor wheels have wheel rear parts facing away from respective compressor wheel inlets, by which a medium that is to be supplied to the energy conversion device, e.g., air, is compressible. The wheel rear parts of the compressor wheels are matched to one another such that respective forces which are opposed to one another and which result from respective compressor wheel outlet forces impressed on the wheel rear parts substantially balance one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas Knoop, Thomas Steidten, Reiner Kimmich
  • Publication number: 20120051886
    Abstract: A shaft assembly that includes a locked spacer mounted to a shaft shoulder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Leonard Paul Palmisano, William Bogue, Robert J. DeRosa
  • Patent number: 8113798
    Abstract: A turbomachine has a housing and a rotor mounted radially and axially in the housing. The rotor has a shaft and at least one impeller attached to the shaft. Two tilt-segment bearings having tilt segments, which bearings act in opposite directions, are provided for axial mounting of the rotor. The bearings interact with an assigned contact surface of the shaft. At least one of the tilt segments has a force measurement device for direct detection of the axial force acting on the assigned tilt segment. The force measurement devices are connected with an electronic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Energas GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Bosen
  • Patent number: 8092150
    Abstract: A method for axial thrust control of a gas turbine, and a gas turbine with a device for controlling axial thrust are provided. A gas turbine, with regard to aerodynamic forces and pressure forces, which exert an axial force upon the rotor, is configured such that at no-load and low partial load it has a negative thrust, and at high load it has a positive thrust. In order to ensure a resulting positive thrust upon the thrust bearing within the entire load range of the gas turbine, an additional thrust is applied in a controlled manner. The additional thrust for example can be controlled in dependence upon the gas turbine load. The resulting thrust force at full load is consequently less than in the case of a conventionally designed gas turbine without thrust balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Sven Olmes, Thomas Zierer
  • Patent number: 8075251
    Abstract: A hydraulic seal is defined between a rotating member such as a turbocharger shaft and a stationary member such as part of a bearing housing of a turbocharger. The members define a projecting annular disc that is received in an annular channel that is filled with hydraulic sealing fluid such as oil. Rotation of the rotary member applies a centrifugal force to the fluid thereby ensuring that it is retained in the channel between walls thereof and the disc. This annulus of fluid provides a hydraulic seal around the shaft between the bearing housing and the compressor or turbine housing. The oil is delivered into the channel from a supply in the rotary member. One of the walls of the channel serves as a weir whereby when the channel has an excess supply of oil is overflows the wall and passes the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Matthew J Purdey
  • Patent number: 8061970
    Abstract: A shaft support device for a turbomachine including a rotary body and a stationary body. The rotary body is attached to a shaft of the turbomachine, and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a thrust bearing collar and the second portion has a thrust balance piston. The first and second portions are axially overlapping. The stationary body is fixably attached to a casing of the turbomachine. The stationary body has a first thrust bearing portion that is disposed adjacent to and operatively engages the first portion of the rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: William C. Maier, David J. Peer
  • Patent number: 8021105
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic axial bearing with a floating disk is disclosed wherein two lubricating gaps on the two sides of the floating disk are formed by supporting surfaces of different size. This makes it possible to provide identical lubricating gaps on both sides, despite different rotation speeds between the floating disk and the bearing housing, and between the floating disk and the bearing comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventors: Bruno Ammann, Markus Lebong, Marco Di Pietro