Shaft Bearing Combined With Or Retained By Arm Or Vane In Surrounding Working Fluid Space Patents (Class 415/142)
  • Patent number: 9004849
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing structure mounted to the front center body case structure to rotationally support a shaft driven by a geared architecture. A bearing compartment passage structure is in communication with the bearing structure through a front center body case structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter M. Munsell, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Patent number: 8998569
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gas turbine engine internal compartment structure having an integral passageway. Wiring is routed through the integral passageway of the gas turbine engine internal compartment structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Russell B. Witlicki
  • Patent number: 8979483
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a bearing, an outer assembly disposed about an axis and having an angled perimeter, and an inner assembly supporting the bearing and having a surface angled to slide against and attach to the angled perimeter as the bearing is aligned with the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Christopher M. Dye, Steven J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 8935853
    Abstract: An exemplary turbine engine assembly includes a first shaft that is rotatably driven by a second shaft of a gas turbine engine, a compressor hub driven by the second shaft, the compressor hub within a compressor section of the gas turbine engine, an epicyclic gear train that is driven by the first shaft, and a common attachment point that secures the first shaft and the compressor hub to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 8920113
    Abstract: An exemplary turbomachine securing apparatus includes a coupling member that couples a first component to a second component within a turbomachine. The first component and the second component are both non-rotating components during operation of the turbomachine. The coupling member limiting relative circumferential movement between the first component and the second component, and permitting relative radial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Eric A. Hudson
  • Patent number: 8898900
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a housing supporting compressor, turbine sections, and an epicyclic gear train including a carrier. Sun gear and intermediate gears are arranged about and intermeshing with the sun gear. The intermediate gears are supported by the carrier. A baffle includes a lubrication passage near at least one of the sun gear and intermediate gears for directing a lubrication on the at least one of the sun gear and intermediate gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 8894359
    Abstract: A thermal barrier/cooling system for controlling a temperature of an outer case of a gas turbine engine. The thermal barrier/cooling system includes an internal insulating layer supported on an inner case surface, the internal insulating layer extending circumferentially along the inner case surface and providing a thermal resistance to radiated energy from structure located radially inwardly from the outer case. The thermal barrier/cooling system further includes a convective cooling channel defined by a panel structure located in radially spaced relation to an outer case surface of the outer case and extending around the circumference of the outer case surface. The convective cooling channel forms a flow path for an ambient air flow cooling the outer case surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mrinal Munshi, John Finneran, Ching-Pang Lee, Yevgeniy Shteyman, Daryl Graber, Matthew R. Porter, Jonathan M. Leagon
  • Patent number: 8894377
    Abstract: A personal motorized cooling fan designed to retract and fold into a vertical tower for economy of shipping, storage and desk space. Each fan blade includes a blade portion and a root portion that rides in a race that guides the blades as they splay during rotation. When the fan is turned on, the rotation of the shaft and therefore race, combined with centrifugal force, causes the blades to splay forming a radial array. A protective cage including an array of longitudinal members expands in a fan-like manner. The cage is engaged with ribbons of stretch fabric that retract and fold along with the cage and blades after use. The entire assembly folds tidily into a slender tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Greenberg
  • Patent number: 8876463
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a mid turbine frame disposed between turbine rotor assemblies. The mid turbine frame includes hollow airfoils radially extending through an annular gas path duct. The airfoils each include a double-walled leading edge structure to define a front chamber separated from a rear chamber defined in the remaining space within the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Nicolas Grivas
  • Patent number: 8863531
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus bifurcates and regulates cooling airflow provided to a mid-turbine frame. The cooling apparatus includes a flow metering tube and a metering plate. The flow metering tube includes a top portion and a tube portion, wherein the top portion includes a first central aperture that directs a first cooling airflow into the tube portion and a first plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the central aperture that directs a second cooling airflow to a portion outside the tube portion. The metering plate is located on the top portion of the flow metering tube, wherein the metering plate includes a second central aperture aligned with the central aperture of the flow metering tube and a second plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the central aperture, wherein a size of the second central aperture meters the first cooling airflow and a size and number of the second plurality of apertures meters the second cooling airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Ariel Scott, Jorge I. Farah, John E. Wilber, David T. Feindel, Kalpendu J. Parekh
  • Patent number: 8845277
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing and a bearing support having a first wall extending between first and second ends and operatively supported by the bearing at a first end. An engine case is secured to the second end radially outward of the first end. A second wall integral with and extending transversely from the first wall provides a flexible support. The second wall has a flange, and a gear train component is secured to the flange. A gas turbine engine includes a support structure which supports the main rotatable structure via bearings and gear train components. The support provides both the necessary structural support for the rotor structure as well as desired flexibility for a fan drive gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8814496
    Abstract: A device is provided for reducing the drive power requirement of a watercraft includes a fore-nozzle, wherein at least one outer fin projects outwards from the fore-nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Becker Marine Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Lehmann, Friedrich Mewis
  • Patent number: 8770924
    Abstract: A support structure in a gas turbine engine including an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall defining an annular flow path, a casing housing the structure defining the flow path, and a bearing compartment housing a rotor shaft bearing located radially inwardly from the inner annular wall. The support structure includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial support members extending radially inwardly from an outer mount connection at the casing to an inner mount connection at the bearing compartment housing. The radial support members provide structural support for radial bearing loads on the rotor shaft bearing. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axial support members extend radially and axially inwardly from an outer mount connection at the casing to an inner mount connection located on an annular structure extending radially between connection locations at the bearing compartment housing and the inner annular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Malberto Gonzalez, Jerome H. Katy, David J. Wiebe
  • Patent number: 8757965
    Abstract: A gas turbine compression system (1) comprising a gas channel (5), a low pressure compressor section (8) and a high pressure compressor section (9) for compression of the gas in the channel and a compressor structure (14) arranged between the low pressure compressor section (8) and the high pressure compressor section (9). The compressor structure (14) is designed to conduct a gas flow in the gas channel and comprises a plurality of radial struts (15,16,21,24,25) for transmission of load, wherein at least one of the struts (15,16,21,24,25) is hollow for housing service components. The compressor structure (14) is arranged directly downstream of a last rotor (10) in the low pressure compressor section (8) and designed for substantially turning a swirling gas flow from the rotor (10) by a plurality of the struts (15,16,21,24,25) having a cambered shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: Stephane Baralon
  • Patent number: 8727699
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a damping system for rotating machinery such as gas turbine engines. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for damping systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, Timothy Hoffmann, Steven Arlen Klusman
  • Patent number: 8721256
    Abstract: A turbomachine including a shaft, a bearing for supporting the shaft and including an outer ring, and a support for the bearing, the support having a flange to which the outer ring is fastened by fasteners, is provided. Each fastener includes a fastener bolt and a nut screwed together. The turbomachine further includes, for each fastener, a position-retention device for retaining the bolt, and suitable for retaining the bolt in a position that is stationary relative to the bearing support or the outer ring, even in the absence of the nut. The head of the fastener bolt and the position-retention device may be of small dimensions, thereby enabling the fastening of the flange to the bearing support to be optimized, and in particular enabling the weight of the fastening to be optimized. A method of mounting the bearing of the turbomachine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Regis Eugene Henri Servant
  • Patent number: 8702380
    Abstract: A clamping assembly comprising a bearing support member (16), the bearing support member being clampable to a shaft (2) by virtue of a clamping member (24) adaptable to tighten the bearing support member to the shaft, wherein at least a portion (16?) of the bearing support member (16) is disposable between a first abutment surface (28) provided on the clamping member and a second abutment surface (25) provided on the shaft; and wherein the portion (16?) of the bearing support member (16) comprises one or more protrusions (30) and one or more depressions (32) provided on an end face (16a, 16b) of the portion of the bearing support member, the protrusions and depressions being arranged to interface with one or more corresponding depressions (36) and protrusions (34) provided on one of the first abutment surface of the clamping member and the second abutment surface of the shaft, the respective protrusions and depressions being disposed so as to resist relative rotation between the shaft and the bearing support
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Philip T. Howells
  • Patent number: 8702377
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor tip clearance and shaft dynamics system and method are provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine that is disposed within an engine case and includes a rotor. A rotor bearing assembly disposed within the engine case rotationally mounts the gas turbine engine rotor. Vibration isolators mounted on the engine case are coupled to the rotor bearing assembly, and are configured to provide linear and independently tunable stiffness and damping. A method includes determining the location of a gas turbine engine rotor rotational axis, disposing the gas turbine engine rotor in an engine case at the rotational axis location, mounting a plurality of vibration isolators that include a plurality of adjustment devices on the engine case, coupling each vibration isolator to the gas turbine engine rotor, and locking the gas turbine engine rotor at the rotational axis location using the plurality of adjustment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cottrell, George Jerzy Zalewski, James Kroeger
  • Patent number: 8640336
    Abstract: An exemplary turbine engine assembly includes a first shaft that is rotatably driven by a second shaft of a gas turbine engine and a compressor hub driven by the first shaft. The compressor hub is within a compressor section of the gas turbine engine. An epicyclic gear train is driven by the first shaft. A common attachment point secures the first shaft and the compressor hub to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 8616835
    Abstract: A gas turbine including exhaust chamber defined by a cylindrical casing wall and a bearing case that supports a bearing part of a rotor in the casing wall, struts provided at equal intervals in circumferential direction of the bearing case and extending in tangential direction of the bearing case to couple the casing wall and the bearing case, a diffuser unit having an outer diffuser at the inner periphery of the casing wall and an inner diffuser at the outer periphery of the bearing case, a cooling chamber in which the outer diffuser and the inner diffuser are coupled by a strut cover, led to a portion between the casing wall and the outer diffuser, a portion between the bearing case and the inner diffuser, and the insides of the strut cover, and a partition wall that covers the outer periphery of the bearing case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Kenichi Arase
  • Patent number: 8568083
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided that includes a low pressure spool, a high pressure spool, a stationary support frame, and at least one support arch. The low pressure spool extends between a low pressure compressor and a low pressure turbine. The high pressure spool extends between a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine. The spools are rotatable about a center axis of the engine. The support arch has a stationary support mount disposed between a low spool mount and a high spool mount. The support arch is disposed relative to the spools and the stationary support frame so that a load from each spool caused by the rotation of that spool can be transferred to the stationary support frame through the support arch. The support arch can freely rotate about the center axis of the engine relative to the spools and the stationary structural frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nagendra Somanath, Keshava B. Kumar, William A. Sowa
  • Patent number: 8535009
    Abstract: A two-row tapered roller bearing includes an outer ring (1) having an outer diameter of at least one meter, a first inner ring (2) and a second inner ring (3) that is disposed axially adjacent the first inner ring (2). A first set of conically-formed roller bodies (4) roll between the outer ring (1) and the first inner ring (2) and a second set of conically-formed roller bodies (5) are disposed axially adjacent the first roller bodies (4) and roll between the outer ring (1) and the second inner ring (3). A first sealing ring (11) is disposed axially adjacent the outer ring (1), is connected with the outer ring (1) and slips on a slip surface (16) of the first inner ring (2) in a contacting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Matthias Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8511969
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a mid turbine frame disposed between turbine rotor assemblies. The mid turbine frame includes hollow airfoils radially extending through an annular gas path duct. The airfoils each include a double-walled leading edge structure to define a front chamber separated from a rear chamber defined in the remaining space within the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Nicolas Grivas
  • Patent number: 8500392
    Abstract: A seal housing is provided to substantially cover at least one duct wall of vane array duct of a gas turbine engine, and one example arrangement is employed in a mid-turbine frame. The arrangement provides improved sealing of the vane array duct through the provision of a plurality of cavities extending along the duct wall. The arrangement may also include insulation tubes to assist in sealing around load transfer spokes passing through the vane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, John Pietrobon
  • Patent number: 8459941
    Abstract: A mechanical joint for a gas turbine engine includes:(a) an annular first component having an annular, radially-extending first flange; (b) an annular second component having an annular, radially-extending second flange abutting the first flange; (c) a plurality of generally radially-extending radial channels passing through at least one of the first and second flanges; (d) a plurality of generally axially-extending channels extending through the first flange and communicating with respective ones of the radial channels; and (e) a plurality of fasteners clamping the first and second flanges together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Michael Jasko, Kenneth Edward Seitzer, Paul Alexander Intemann, Sasikumar Muthasamy, Jarmo Tapani Monttinen
  • Patent number: 8454304
    Abstract: Bearing support structure for turbines comprising an inner ring (1) and an outer ring (2) radially connected by means of structural vanes (5) and aerodynamic vanes (6) in a circumference-like arrangement between both rings (1, 2). The aerodynamic vanes (6) are thinner and lighter than the structural vanes (5), and the number of structural vanes (5) depends exclusively on the loads of the bearing (3) housed in the structure to be transmitted to the anchoring points (7) of the engine assembly located in the outer ring (2), and on the amount of service fluids which must go through between the inner ring (1) and the outer ring (2), while the number of aerodynamic vanes (6) and their section depends exclusively on the aerodynamic requirements demanded from the support structure for the straightening of the turbine main flow. Thus, the structural vanes (5) fulfill only structural functions and the aerodynamic vanes (6) fulfill only aerodynamic functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Industria de Turbo Propulores, S.A.
    Inventors: Jon Heriz Agiriano, Raúl Vázquez Díaz, David Cadrecha Robles, Sergio Moñux Rodrigo, Erlantz Cristobal Camio
  • Patent number: 8430627
    Abstract: A gas turbine exhaust strut installed in an exhaust case of a gas turbine is disclosed which includes a trailing portion configured with an inner surface for mounting to an inner annular member of the exhaust case and an outer surface for mounting to an outer annular member of the exhaust case, a block attached to the trailing portion, an angled piece attached to the block and configured with a surface on a pressure side of the strut angled with respect to a surface of the trailing portion on the pressure side of the strut, and a transition piece attached to the block and configured with a surface on the pressure side of the strut for smoothing the transition between the height of the block on the pressure side of the strut and the height of the trailing portion on the pressure side of the strut. A method of refurbishing an exhaust strut installed in an exhaust case of gas turbine while retaining at least a portion of the strut in the exhaust case is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Luis Ruiz, Russell Bond Jones, Robert Kevin Read, Alexander Ortega
  • Patent number: 8430622
    Abstract: In a turbofan gas turbine engine, a fan shaft is rotatably mounted and radially supported by a bearing in a bearing support structure supported from a fixed engine structure by radially frangible bolts and radially extending spokes. The radially inner ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a common member that engages the bearing support structure. The radially outer ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a fixed engine structure located radially outwardly of the bearing support structure. The radially extending spokes are held in tension and include a super elastic material to exert a radially inward restoring force on the bearing support structure, subsequent to any radial excursion of at least part of the fan shaft relative to an engine rotational axis (X) following any fracture of the frangible bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: John Richard Webster, Kenneth Franklin Udall, James Martin Townsend
  • Publication number: 20130101399
    Abstract: A ram air fan bearing housing for a ram air fan assembly includes a bearing section, a disk section, and radial support ribs. The disk section is at one end of the bearing section for connecting the bearing section to the ram air fan assembly. The disk section includes an outer ring with a circumferential support rib; and a disk wall connecting the outer ring to the bearing section. The disk wall includes arcuate cooling slots defined by edges, including an arcuate edge having an arc center at an axis of the bearing housing and positioned adjacent to and radially inward from the circumferential support rib. The radial support ribs extend axially along most of the length of the bearing section and extend radially along the disk wall to the circumferential support rib. The radial support ribs and the cooling slots alternate about the axis of the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Brent J. Merritt
  • Patent number: 8397384
    Abstract: A method for attaching a bearing on a turbomachine including a stator and a rotor, the bearing including: a first portion attached on the stator of the turbomachine by a plurality of screws and nuts, a second portion attached on the rotor, rotationally movable in one given rotation direction, and a rolling bearing provided between the first and second portions of the bearing is disclosed. The method provides using screws having a screwing rotation direction contrary to the rotation direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Manuel Claude Bertrand Girard, Jerome Tribouiller
  • Publication number: 20130022451
    Abstract: A system for assembling a turbine engine component has a disk having a groove, which groove has a bearing surface and an upper wall, at least one locking slot being positioned at an intersection of the bearing surface and the upper wall; each locking slot having a shaped surface; and at least one lock having a shape which matches and mates with the shaped surface of the locking slot; and said locking slots providing clearance to assemble blades into the disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Aiello, Louis James Ruotolo, Uyen Phan
  • Publication number: 20130011242
    Abstract: A support structure in a gas turbine engine including an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall defining an annular flow path, a casing housing the structure defining the flow path, and a bearing compartment housing a rotor shaft bearing located radially inwardly from the inner annular wall. The support structure includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial support members extending radially inwardly from an outer mount connection at the casing to an inner mount connection at the bearing compartment housing. The radial support members provide structural support for radial bearing loads on the rotor shaft bearing. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axial support members extend radially and axially inwardly from an outer mount connection at the casing to an inner mount connection located on an annular structure extending radially between connection locations at the bearing compartment housing and the inner annular wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Malberto Gonzalez, Jerome H. Katy, David J. Wiebe
  • Patent number: 8347635
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine mid turbine frame apparatus includes a an inner case supporting a bearing, an outer case to which the inner case is mounted, and an apparatus for radially positioning one relative to the other, the apparatus including a plurality of radial locators extending outwardly of the outer case and an associated locking apparatus. The locking apparatus is mounted adjacent to but independent of the locators and provides for anti-rotation of the radial locators once installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitey Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, John Pietrobon
  • Publication number: 20120321447
    Abstract: An assembly including a part for mounting at least one shaft bearing of a turbine engine and a support part that forms an abutment for the mounting part. The mounting part includes at least one channel through which engine gases pass, and connection parts that are capable of connecting the channel to an outer structure of the engine and to a housing holding the bearing. At least one of the connection parts is flexible so as to enable radial movement of the channel, an amplitude of the radial movement being limited by at least one of the elements of the mounting part coming onto an abutment supported by the support part. The support part extends longitudinally with regard to the direction of the rotational axis of the turbine engine so as to generate a turbine shroud that is configured to be positioned in alignment with a turbine wheel of the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Turbomeca
    Inventors: Marc Maurice Dijoud, Jean-Luc Pierre Sahores, Jean-Maurice Casaux-Bic
  • Patent number: 8312726
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving I-beam struts are provided. In this regard, a representative strut assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first I-beam strut having first and second flanges spaced from each other and interconnected by a web, the first strut exhibiting a twist along a length of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Joey Wong, Peter Chen, Dana P. Stewart, David N. Waxman, Michael A. Mike
  • Patent number: 8303246
    Abstract: Assembly of the connection of an arm to a ferrule is done by imbricating a side wing protruding from the end of the arm and keys bolted to the ferrule. The assembly may be supplemented with positioning pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Godefroy Francis Frederic Drelon, Sebastien Jean Laurent Prestel, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Patent number: 8306759
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for calculating a fatigue usage factor with respect to fatigue generated in the material of a mechanical device depending upon changes of an operation environment during operation of the mechanical device. A fatigue usage factor UOP.cyc,transient n, which is based on the operation-transient state n, is calculated by multiplying a fatigue usage factor based on a design-transient state UDSGN.cyc,transient n by the value of a characteristic fatigue usage factor F (k) as shown in the following equation: UOP.cyc,transient n=F(k)×UDSGN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan Jae Kim, Jong Jooh Kwon
  • Patent number: 8257030
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving fairings with locating data are provided. In this regard, a representative a fairing assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a first locating component having a leading edge, first and second sides extending from the leading edge, and a recess oriented parallel to the leading edge, the recess having a first datum surface, the first locating component being operative to be positioned between a portion of a strut and a portion of an interior surface of a fairing sheath such that the first datum surface establishes a desired orientation of the fairing sheath relative to the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Lyders, Carl Brian Klinetob, Phillip Alexander
  • Patent number: 8245518
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an engine casing component, such as a mid turbine frame system, which may includes an outer case surrounding a spoke or strut casing. Load transfer spokes of the spoke casing extend between the outer case and an inner case of the spoke casing. A bearing housing supported by the engine casing may include a fuse arrangement for isolating bearing seizure loads from the engine casing. A seal arrangement may be provided to centralize the rotors after the fuse fails. The mid turbine frame may be provided to have a desired flexibility through the configuration of the casing and bearings in design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, John Pietrobon, Lam Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8215901
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines and related systems involving offset hub struts are provided. In this regard, a representative bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a bearing operative to support a rotatable shaft; an annular hub positioned about the bearing; and an annular array of struts extending radially outwardly from the hub, at least two of the struts being positioned in different planes, the planes being oriented transversely with respect to the rotatable shaft. The method of assembling the struts by mounting first and second pluralities of struts, each plurality in a common plane, between the hub and the turbine exhaust case, with the second plurality of struts longitudinally offset from the first plurality of struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Theodore W. Kapustka
  • Patent number: 8181466
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame connected to at least one mount of a gas turbine engine transfers a first load from a first bearing and a second load from a second bearing to the mount. The mid-turbine frame includes a single point load shell structure and a plurality of struts. The single point load shell structure combines the first load and the second load into a combined load. The plurality of struts is connected to the single point load structure and transfers the combined load from the single point load shell structure to the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Keshava B. Kumar, Nagendra Somanath, William A. Sowa
  • Patent number: 8181467
    Abstract: A single point load structure transfers a first load from a first bearing cone and a second load from a second bearing cone of a gas turbine engine to a plurality of struts. The single point load structure includes a stem, a branch connected to the stem and a torque box connected to the plurality of struts for absorbing the first and second loads from the stem and the branch. The stem has a concave surface that opens in a radially outward direction with respect to a rotational axis of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Keshava B. Kumar, Nagendra Somanath, William A. Sowa
  • Patent number: 8177488
    Abstract: A service tube apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a service tube assembly having: (a) an elongated, hollow service tube; and (b) a service tube baffle surrounding the service tube which is pierced with a plurality of impingement cooling holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Alan Manteiga, Robert John Parks
  • Patent number: 8157502
    Abstract: Pump (1) comprising a rotary shaft (30), a bearing housing (80) that is fixed relative to the rotary shaft, at least one rolling bearing (70) the inner ring (71) of which is connected to the said rotary shaft and the outer ring (76) of which is able to slide in this housing along the axis of rotation of the rotary shaft. The bearing housing (80) comprises a shoulder (81) situated on one side of this bearing and able rigidly to prevent translational movement of the outer ring (76) along the axis of rotation, and a deformable elastic device (100) fixed to the housing on the other side of the bearing (70) so that the bearing lies between the shoulder and the elastic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Edeline, Charles Marciquet, Laurent Fabbri, Fabien Wahl
  • Patent number: 8133011
    Abstract: The invention concerns a novel type of turbomachine. The stator of the turbomachine comprises a plurality of profiled members forming stiffeners arranged on the blade stage. The profiled members are distributed uniformly at periphery of the blade stage and individually between two consecutive blades. The stiffeners are fixed to the internal and external ferrules of the stator in order to uniformly increase the axial and radial stiffness of the stator in normal operation of the turbomachine and to allow the internal ferrules to have a limited displacement during the normal functioning of the turbomachine. This makes it possible to reduce the axial sizing of the turbomachine, and consequently its mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Techspace Aero
    Inventor: Jean-François Gérard Jacques Cortequisse
  • Patent number: 8109744
    Abstract: An oil-free turbo vacuum pump is capable of evacuating gas in a chamber from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum. The turbo vacuum pump includes a pumping section having rotor blades and stator blades which are disposed alternately in a casing, a main shaft for supporting the rotor blades, and a bearing and motor section having a motor for rotating the main shaft and a bearing mechanism for supporting the main shaft rotatably. A gas bearing is used as a bearing for supporting the main shaft in a thrust direction, spiral grooves are formed in both surfaces of a stationary part of the gas bearing, and the stationary part having the spiral grooves is placed between an upper rotating part and a lower rotating part which are fixed to the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Hiroaki Ogamino, Hiroshi Sobukawa
  • Patent number: 8099962
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a casing component, such as a mid turbine frame system, which includes an outer case surrounding a spoke or strut casing. Load transfer spokes of the spoke casing are detachably connected to the outer case and radially extend between the outer case and an inner case of the spoke casing. A bearing housing is supported by the inner case of the spoke casing. An arrangement for radially centring the bearing within the outer case is provided, the arrangement including at least three radial locators mounted to the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, John Pietrobon, Lam Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8087907
    Abstract: An oil-free turbo vacuum pump is capable of evacuating gas in a chamber from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum. The turbo vacuum pump includes a pumping section having rotor blades and stator blades which are disposed alternately in a casing, and a main shaft for supporting the rotor blades. A gas bearing is used as a bearing for supporting the main shaft in a thrust direction, spiral grooves are formed in both surfaces of a stationary part of the gas bearing, and the stationary part having the spiral grooves is placed between an upper rotating part and a lower rotating part which are fixed to the main shaft. A thrust magnetic bearing for canceling out a thrust force generated by the differential pressure between a discharge side and an intake side by an evacuation action of the pumping suction is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Toshimitsu Barada
  • Patent number: 8083471
    Abstract: An apparatus to support a rotor of a turbine engine disposed upon a support surface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a rotor support bearing disposed within the housing, and a support leg in operable communication with the housing and in direct structural connection with the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Damon Black, Gregory Allan Crum, Scott Michael Elam
  • Patent number: 8083472
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine (10) comprising a first turbine (19) and a first compressor (13) mounted on a first shaft (26) and a bearing arrangement (52, 34) supporting the shaft (26), the bearing arrangement is subject to a total end load and comprises a fixed bearing (34), a load share bearing (52) and a bearing end load management system (50) that is capable of applying a variable load to the load share bearing to manage total end load between the bearings. The bearing end load management system comprises a static diaphragm (54) that defines part of a chamber (56) and that is coupled to the load share bearing whereby increased pressurization of the chamber loads the diaphragm which in turn increases the proportion of the total end load on the load share bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. Maguire