Individually Pivoted Vanes Patents (Class 415/160)
  • Patent number: 8197190
    Abstract: A lever for rotating about its pivot a turbomachine variable-pitch stator vane: including a first zone for attachment to a lever drive member, a second zone for attachment to the variable-pitch stator vane, and a third zone of elongate shape between the first zone and the second zone is disclosed. A vibration-damping laminate is applied to at least one surface portion of at least one of the zones of the lever. The laminate includes at least one layer of viscoelastic material in contact with the surface portion and a backing layer of rigid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Francois Maurice Garcin, Pierrick Bernard Jean, Jean-Pierre Francois Lombard, Christian Paleczny
  • Patent number: 8182209
    Abstract: Reinjecting air to the inlet of a compressor in order to improve its pumping margin. The inlet stator of the compressor includes injection holes passing through at least some of the vanes in the vicinity of their pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Thierry Jean-Jacques Obrecht
  • Patent number: 8177490
    Abstract: A control device of variable pitch vanes in a turbomachine is disclosed. The control device includes a ring surrounding a casing of the turbomachine and connected by links to the variable pitch vanes, and a jack connected to the ring in order to displace it in rotation around the casing. The jack is mounted pivoting on the casing and its piston rod is connected to the ring by a connecting rod. The piston and connecting rods are articulated on an axis which is connected to the casing by a guiding device maintaining it at a substantially constant distance from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Michel Andre Bouru
  • Patent number: 8172500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine, in particular of an exhaust-gas turbocharger, comprising a turbine rotor which is supported rotatable in a housing, and to which at least one guide vane apparatus forming a radial inlet channel for a medium driving the turbine rotor is allocated, wherein the guide vane apparatus comprises a guide vane mounting ring with a plurality of guide vanes which radially surround the turbine rotor and which are located within the inlet channel, as well as a guide vane cover ring, and wherein the inlet channel is axially bounded by the guide vane mounting ring and the guide vane cover ring, and the guide vane cover ring abuts with a front side facing away from the inlet channel against a support area of the housing. The invention provides that the housing (5) comprises in the support area (15) at least one recess (17) which is open-edged towards the guide vane cover ring (9), and through which the medium can flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Fleig, Matthias Stein, Andreas Wengert
  • Patent number: 8172517
    Abstract: A system for passively controlling a variable position guide vane in a turbo-machine. The system includes a shaft rotatable about an axis with an airfoil connected thereto. The shaft is biased toward a closed position, but will open in response to fluid flowing through a flowpath. The guide vane can then be locked in an open position at a desired operating condition of the turbo-machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kerry Jon Lighty
  • Patent number: 8162597
    Abstract: A stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbomachine is disclosed. The vanes include internal pivots engaged in corresponding housings of a sectorized internal ring. Each ring sector includes axial orifices for mounting two pins for the radial retention of the ring sector on the internal pivot of a vane. Each pin includes an immobilization device cooperating by shape coupling with a complementary immobilization device of the other pin in order to rotationally immobilize these pins in the orifices in the ring sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Robert Louis LeJars, Richard Staessen
  • Patent number: 8147187
    Abstract: A device for controlling a pivot of a variable-pitch blade in a stator of a turbomachine compressor is disclosed. The device for controlling a pivot of a variable-pitch blade includes a control lever and a pivot with a bottom end and a top end. The top end is connected to the control lever. The device also includes a first swivel bearing placed at the bottom end of the pivot and a second swivel bearing placed at the top end of the pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Christelle Foucher
  • Publication number: 20120076641
    Abstract: A variable vane assembly for a compressor having a plurality of vanes is disclosed. The variable vane assembly may generally include a synchronizing ring and a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring. The variable vane assembly may also include a plurality of lever arms, with each lever arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of each lever arm may be attached to one of the vanes. Additionally, a plurality of rotational attachment devices may be configured to rotatably couple the second end of each lever arm to one of the attachment studs so as to define a rotational interface therebetween. Further, each of the attachments studs may be rigidly attached to one of the rotational attachment devices at the rotational interface such that there is substantially no relative radial and circumferential sliding motion between the synchronizing ring and the plurality of lever arms during rotation of the synchronizing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Harry McFarland Jarrett, JR., Jayakrishna Velampati, Andrew John Lammas
  • Publication number: 20120051891
    Abstract: A centering device includes a pivoting part configured to pivot around a first axis that extends along an axial direction of a hole formed in the pivoting part; a roller attached to a first end of the pivoting part and configured to rotate; a rod attached to a second end of the pivoting part and configured to move along a second axis; a spring mechanism enclosing a part of the rod and configured to apply a biasing force to the pivoting part; and a rod housing configured to receive an end of the rod and to allow the rod to freely move through the rod housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Franco Sarri, Giuseppe Iurisci
  • Patent number: 8123472
    Abstract: A unison ring assembly for an axial compressor casing is provided. The unison ring assembly includes a unison ring and at least three unison ring supports being radial inwardly and equally spaced arranged along a circumference of the unison ring, wherein each unison ring support has a unison ring bracket attached to the unison ring. Further, the unison ring assembly includes a slide bearing to be sliding along a slide face of an outer surface of the compressor casing and a resilient member being arranged between and coupled to the slide bearing and the unison ring bracket such that the unison ring is rotatable around the compressor casing by sliding the slide bearing along the slide face and to be centered free of clearance about the compressor casing. The resilient member is adapted to accommodate radial displacement of the compressor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Paul Redgwell
  • Patent number: 8123471
    Abstract: A variable stator vane airfoil is mounted on a button centered about a rotational axis and includes circular leading and trailing edges circumscribed about the rotational axis at a button radius. Contoured pressure and suction sides extend from the circular leading edge to the circular trailing edge and are recessed inwardly from a perimeter circumscribed about the rotational axis at the button radius. One of upstream and downstream pressure side portions of the contoured pressure side is straight and another of the upstream and downstream pressure side portions is convexly curved. One of the upstream and downstream suction side portions is straight and another of the upstream and downstream suction side portions is convexly curved. One of the upstream pressure side portion and upstream suction side portion is straight and another of the upstream pressure side portion and upstream suction side portion is convexly curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Mielke, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, David Scott Clark, James Edwin Rhoda, Gary Robert Peters
  • Patent number: 8118539
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an exhaust gas turbocharger for a motor vehicle. The turbocharger includes a turbine housing having a first area in which exhaust is carried to a turbine wheel and in which the turbine wheel is essentially situated and having a second area connected axially to the first area, such that the first area and the second area are essentially separated from one another by a separating element. It is provided that for thermal insulation, the separating element is made of a material having a low thermal conduction and/or thermal capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Eble, Andreas Wengert
  • Patent number: 8118544
    Abstract: An exemplary locating mechanism includes a bearing outer race (422) that has a central axis (z-axis) and that has a turbine end, a compressor end and a slot (421), of an axial length, disposed between the turbine end and the compressor end; and a deformable clip (430) shaped as a semi-cylindrical wall having an axial length less than the axial length of the slot, where in a tension state, the clip (430) has an inner circumference to position the clip (430) with respect to the slot (421) and where in a compression state, the clip (430) has an inner circumference that locates the clip (430) in the slot (421). Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Don Arnold
  • Patent number: 8112995
    Abstract: A turbocharger with variable turbine geometry comprising of a turbine housing having an exhaust gas inlet and an outlet, a volute connected to the inlet, and a nozzle wall adjacent the volute, carrying a turbine wheel and is attached to a shaft with a plurality of improved aerodynamic profiled stator blades that are disposed within the turbine housing between the exhaust gas inlet and turbine wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Turbo Energy Limited
    Inventor: Kasturirangan Pappakurichi Santhanam
  • Patent number: 8113769
    Abstract: Expansion turbine having a variable nozzle mechanism comprises an adiabatic expansion device located in a vacuum container having a turbine impeller therein which rotates and drives the turbine impeller during adiabatic expansion of very low temperature gas, and varies the throat area of very low temperature gas introduced in the turbine impeller by driving a nozzle member disposed near the outside end of the adiabatic expansion device by a drive force from a driving member located outside the vacuum container; a plate member provided detachably in contact with the outside end of the body of the adiabatic expansion device, wherein the support side of the nozzle member is connected to and supported by the plate member, and the drive side of the nozzle member is connected to and supported by the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Takahashi, Seiichiro Yoshinaga, Hirohisa Wakisaka
  • Patent number: 8109715
    Abstract: There is provided a turbocharger with a variable nozzle assembly having a plurality of cambered vanes positioned annularly around a turbine wheel, each vane (20) being pivotable around a pivot point (Pp) and being configured to have a leading edge (Ple) and a trailing edge (Pte) connected by an outer airfoil surface (2) and an inner airfoil surface (4), said outer airfoil surface (2) being substantially convex and said inner airfoil surface (4) having a convex section at the leading edge (Ple) which has a local extreme (Pex) of curvature and transitions into a concave section towards the trailing edge (Pte). The positions of the pivot point (Pp) and the local extreme (Pex) are set such that, even when the vanes are placed in a closed position, the exhaust gas stream exercises a positive torque on the vanes which tends to open the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Renaud, Denis Tisserant
  • Patent number: 8105019
    Abstract: A turbine section of a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate vane platform segment having a substantially flat surface over which a rotational turbine vane may swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey, Eric A. Hudson, James D. Hill, Shankar S. Magge, Joel H. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8105020
    Abstract: A turbocharger comprises a turbine wheel (5) mounted within a housing assembly (1, 3) for rotation about a turbine axis, a gas flow inlet passage (8) upstream of the turbine wheel (5), and a gas flow control mechanism (10, 16, 32) located within the housing assembly (1, 3) upstream of the turbine wheel (5) and operable to control gas flow through said gas flow inlet passage (9). An actuator assembly is mounted to the housing assembly and comprises: A lead screw including a lead screw shaft (37) defining a lead screw axis, and a lead screw nut (36) threadedly engaged on a threaded portion of the lead screw shaft (37). The lead screw (36, 37) being arranged so that rotation of one of said shaft and nut relative to the housing assembly produces linear movement in the other of said shaft and nut in the direction of the lead screw axis: The lead screw (36, 37) engages the gas flow control mechanism (10, 16, 32) at a location within a housing cavity defined within said housing assembly (1, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: John Michael Bywater, Stephen Garrett, Henry David Lambton Carr
  • Patent number: 8104280
    Abstract: A lever plate in a VGS type turbocharger that is incorporated in an exhaust guide assembly in a VGS type turbocharger. The lever plate has a fitting hole into which a shaft part of the adjustable vane is fitted formed at a position close to one end of an elongated plate main body thereof and an engaging protrusion to be engaged with the drive ring formed at the other end thereof. The engaging protrusion is formed by bending a blanking material having the shape of an elongated flat plate. The engaging protrusion is pressed in a direction of raising thereof so as to have a thickness greater than the thickness of the plate main body of the lever plate, and opposite side peripheries of the engaging protrusion are subjected to finish blanking to have an arc shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Akita Fine Blanking Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Akita
  • Patent number: 8092157
    Abstract: A variable vane actuation assembly for gas turbine engines having rotatable stator vanes comprises an engine casing, a unison ring, a bumper ring, a radial spline connection and a plurality of bumper shims. The engine casing is configured to encase the rotatable stator vanes. The unison ring is disposed concentrically with the engine casing. The bumper ring is disposed concentrically between the engine casing and the unison ring. The radial spline connection extends from the engine casing and joins with the bumper ring to permit the bumper ring to float radially with respect to the engine casing, but prevent the bumper ring from rotating circumferentially with respect to the engine-casing. The plurality of bumper shims are positioned between the unison ring and the bumper ring to limit deformation of the unison ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 8087883
    Abstract: A variable-pitch control device for a turbomachine compressor is disclosed. The device includes a rod, a fastening device for fastening a first end of the rod to a pivot of a vane to be controlled, and a connection device between a second end of the rod and a control ring. The rod is substantially cylindrical, its first end being engaged in a bore in the pivot of the vane. The device further includes a clamping device for clamping the first end of the rod in the bore in the pivot in order to fasten it to the pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Michel Andre Bouru, Andre Remi Claude Verbrugge
  • Patent number: 8083474
    Abstract: To provide a turbocharger whose lifetime is long, which is capable of inexpensively and precisely performing nozzle vane angle synchronous control by using inexpensive and highly wear resistant components in a link mechanism for driving a rotation mechanism of nozzle vanes of an adjustable nozzle mechanism. As pins fixedly arrayed in a ring plate rotatably supported on the turbocharger, that set an angle of the nozzle vanes for controlling an amount of exhaust gas for rotating a turbine rotor, each pin in which a hard coating with a thickness of approximately 2 ?m which is formed of Al, Cr, Si, and N by physical vapor deposition is formed onto an austenitic stainless steel as a base material, is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Tofuji E.M.I.CO., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hashimoto, Noboru Hamaguchi, Yasuaki Jinnai
  • Publication number: 20110312246
    Abstract: A vane for a turbine assembly of a turbocharger includes a first airfoil that includes a length between a leading edge and a trailing edge, a second airfoil that includes a length between a leading edge and a trailing edge where the length of the first airfoil optionally differs from the length of the second airfoil, and one or more intra-vane throats defined at least in part by the first airfoil and the second airfoil. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Ashraf Mohamed, David Strott, Scott MacKenzie
  • Publication number: 20110293406
    Abstract: A variable-pitch vane for a stator stage including includes an active part of the vane either side of which are positioned a radially inner platform and a radially outer platform, where the active part of the vane, which has a surface forming a convex surface, and a surface forming a concave surface, separate the platform into a part positioned on the convex side and a part positioned on the concave side. Seen along the direction of the vane's axis of rotation, the part has an outer outline superimposed on a circle, at the distance of which, and inside which, is at least a part of the outer outline of the part of the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Aude Abadie, Claude Robert Louis Lejars
  • Patent number: 8066474
    Abstract: A variable guide vane actuator for positioning the guide vanes of a turbine engine in a hypersonic missile uses compressor exhaust to drive a linked, floating piston assembly that is coupled to the guide vanes. The relatively low pressure compressor exhaust is metered by a valve to drive the piston arrangement to accurately position the guide vanes in proportion to the input control signal. Reliability and accuracy gains are achieved by inhibiting the effects of vibration and thermal distortion through the elimination of piston/bore contact, the use of a rigid, cantilevered mounting arrangement and cooling with the pre-combusted liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Jansen's Aircraft Systems Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Harvey B. Jansen, David K. Shields
  • Patent number: 8061976
    Abstract: A vane ring assembly which includes a lower vane ring (23), an upper vane ring (31), one or more guide vanes (80) positioned at least partially between the vane rings, and a plurality of spacers (49, 50 or 59) positioned between the lower and upper vane rings (23, 31) for maintaining a distance between the lower and upper vane rings, the vane ring assembly being retained in a turbine housing (102) by a retaining ring (400) which is located in a groove (510) in the turbine housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Dwayne Hall
  • Patent number: 8061975
    Abstract: A bushing assembly for a turbine vane includes a bushing and a housing. The bushing includes a bore for receiving a trunnion of the vane, a first electrical contact carried on an outer surface thereof, and a first conductor extending from the first electrical contact. The first electrical contact is adapted to be connected to a heater element disposed on the vane. The housing is positioned over the bushing and rotatable relative to the bushing. The housing includes a second electrical contact disposed in contact with the first electrical contact and a second conductor extending from the second electrical contact for connection to an electrical power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Billy T. Wood, Kent Gerhard Huber, Louis Bruno Lorenzi
  • Patent number: 8038387
    Abstract: A bearing for a turbomachine variable pitch stator vane pivot mounted in a bore of the turbomachine casing is disclosed. The bearing includes an inner bushing secured to the pivot and an outer bushing secured to the bore. An elastomeric material is inserted between the inner bushing and the outer bushing to allow the vane to pivot about its axis and absorb at least some of the flexing of the pivot at right angles to the axis. The design makes it possible to reduce bearing bushing wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Houradou, Herve Hulin, Sebastien Juste, Dominique Raulin
  • Patent number: 8033785
    Abstract: Several physical features on an inlet guide vane (IGV) ensure proper orientation of the IGV within a compressor during assembly. A gear with several teeth removed results in a flat surface on the gear which inhibits the gear from rotating on the rack of the compressor inlet casing. An orientation pin is located in the internal bore of the gear. The cylindrical IGV spindle has a portion formed as a flat surface and the orientation pin engages this flat surface. These features are applicable to both a one-piece IGV where the jackshaft is integrated with the IGV stem and a two-piece IGV in which the jackshaft is separate from the IGV stem. A feature applicable to a two-piece IGV is a shaped boss on the IGV stem that allows the jackshaft to be located on the IGV stem in only one orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Constantine Thermos, Stephen Paul Wassynger, Carlos Alberto Collado, Ajay Gangadhar Patil, Cj Silver
  • Publication number: 20110241344
    Abstract: A turbomachinery device operable in either a compressor mode or a turbine mode. The device includes an impeller that rotates in the same direction in both modes, and the general flow direction remains the same in both modes. An inlet flow-guiding device may be included to direct fluid into the impeller. The impeller is coupled to a motor/generator, which operates as a motor to add power to the impeller in the compressor mode, and as a generator in the turbine mode to extract mechanical power from the impeller and convert it into electrical power. An outlet flow-guiding device may also be included. The inlet and outlet flow-guiding devices can be inlet and outlet guide vanes that are variable in setting angle or are extendable and retractable into and out of the flow path, or can be other types of flow-guiding devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: William Joseph Smith, Vai Man Lei, Mike Guidry
  • Patent number: 8021106
    Abstract: A guide device with adjustable guide vanes is provided with a drive for the adjustable guide vanes, in which a cylindrical driving pin and an adjusting lever are provided each with one surface pair which are matched to one another and which slide on one another in operation when the guide vanes are being adjusted. To adjust the guide vanes, the adjusting ring is moved, by which the driving pin attached to the adjusting ring slides in an elongated groove of the adjusting lever and applies a force to the adjusting lever. This approach yields an economical and durable structure which is easy to install. This results in surface support with the corresponding low compressive loads per unit area and consequently greatly reduced wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventor: Josef Bättig
  • Patent number: 8021107
    Abstract: A variable-nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle ring and an array of vanes circumferentially spaced about the nozzle ring and rotatably mounted to the nozzle ring such that the vanes are variable in setting angle, and an insert having a tubular portion and an annular nozzle portion extending generally radially out from one end of the tubular portion. A plurality of axially extending holes extend through a thickness of the nozzle portion. A plurality of spacers have first ends joined to the nozzle ring, opposite second ends of the spacers being engaged in the holes and secured to the nozzle portion by welds formed at the second surface. An annular groove is defined in the second surface of the nozzle portion radially inward of and proximate to the holes. Alternatively or additionally, discrete recesses are formed in the second surface adjacent the holes. The groove and/or recesses facilitate weld penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Espasa, Lorrain Sausse, Pierre Barthelet, Francis Abel
  • Patent number: 8011882
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, the assembly including a plurality of vanes 14 with an asymmetric organic metal/ceramic matrix composite lay up, such that when the vanes 14 are placed in tension or compression the profile of the vane 14 will alter by twisting or untwisting. Other materials may be provided for the vanes 14, and/or other methods may be used for placing the vanes 14 in tension or compression to provide positive changes to the profile thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Plc
    Inventor: Alison J. McMillan
  • Publication number: 20110182717
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbocharger (1) with variable turbine geometry (VTG), comprising a multiplicity of guide blades (7). Each guide blade (7) has a blade lever (19, 19?), wherein the center plane (Em2) of an intermediate region (24; 24?) of the blade lever (19, 19?) is arranged so as to be offset axially along a blade shaft longitudinal axis (L) at a distance (a) from the center plane (Em1) of a first end region (20; 20?) of the blade lever (19, 19?) and of a second end region (23; 23?) of the blade lever (19, 19?), and wherein a recess (26; 26?) is arranged adjacent to the intermediate region (24; 24?) between the first end region (20; 20?) and the second end region (23; 23?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Tries, Ralf Boening, Dirk Frankenstein
  • Patent number: 7980815
    Abstract: A turbomachine variable-pitch stator blade is disclosed. The stator blade includes an aerofoil, extended on one side by a pivot by which it is mounted so as to rotate in a bore of the casing of the turbomachine, and a plate, between the aerofoil and the pivot, perpendicular to the line formed by the aerofoil and the pivot. Since the face of the plate opposite to the aerofoil includes a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being subjected to an intense friction with the wall of the casing because of the transverse forces applied to the aerofoil, the thickness of the plate on the second zone is reduced relative to the thickness of the plate of the first zone. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the weight of the blade without loss of performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Yvon Cloarec
  • Patent number: 7982323
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus 2 for generating electrical charge from a motive power source 3. The apparatus 2 comprises an alternator 3a and a worm drive assembly 4 connectable to the motive power source 3. The worm drive assembly 4 comprises a drive shaft 14 a worm gear 20; and, a worm wheel 32 configured so as to mesh with the worm gear 20 and as is further arranged so as to be operatively associated with the alternator 3a. During use, rotation of the drive shaft 14 by the motive power source 3 effects generation of electrical charge by the alternator 3a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Frank Seghezzi
  • Patent number: 7972105
    Abstract: A method of starting up a turbine with a compressor have an inlet guide vane, a number of bleed valves, and a number of blades so as to limit the duration in a rotating stall window. The method may include starting rotation of the blades, increasing the speed of the rotation of the blades, closing one or more bleed valves so as to shift the rotating stall window to a higher rotational speed, partially opening the inlet guide vane to a position outside the rotating stall window, and opening the bleed valves while partially closing the inlet guide vane such that the number of blades pass through the rotating stall window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Dejoris, Michael J. Dutka, Nick Martin, Steven M. Schirle
  • Patent number: 7967556
    Abstract: A turbomachine has at least one stator (4) and at least one downstream rotor (7), with the stator (4) being provided with stationary stator blades and the rotor (7) comprising several rotor blades attached to a rotating shaft. A casing (2) confines the passage of fluid through the rotor (7) and the stator (4) in the outward direction. A mechanism for peripheral jet creation is provided in the area of at least one vane of the stator (4), with at least one nozzle (21) issuing fluid at the radially outer boundary of a main flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Volker Gümmer
  • Patent number: 7963742
    Abstract: An example variable stator vane assembly includes at least one button, a vane airfoil adjacent to the button, and a fillet defined between the button and the airfoil. In one example, the fillet defines a constant radius and extends beyond the button at least greater than a distance of 60% of a length of an overhang portion of the vane airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian E. Clouse, Paul W. Baumann, Becky E. Rose, Mark E. Simonds
  • Publication number: 20110123316
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel (5) in a housing (1) for rotation about a turbine axis, —an annular inlet passage (9) defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members (11, 12), at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes (14) extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots (28) defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates (29, 30), a first plate (29) defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate (30) so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd
  • Patent number: 7942632
    Abstract: A variable shape inlet guide vane (IGV) system includes a variable-shape IGV flap with a flexible portion that enables the desired spanwise distribution of Cx, alpha, and beta at a fan rotor inlet. An actuation system that rotates a root section of the variable-shape IGV flap to flex the flexible portion such that the twisted shape of the flap can reverse rather symmetrically during actuation from max open to max closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley K. Lord, Om P. Sharma, Christopher Dye, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 7938620
    Abstract: The stator includes a casing and at least one stage of variable-pitch stator vanes. The vanes are moved by an actuator ring outside the casing and are carried thereby. The ring is connected by links to the vanes in order to actuate them simultaneously. The casing includes a stationary coaxial rail projecting from the outside surface of the casing and at least three circumferentially spaced-apart groups of wheels are constrained to move along the rail. Each group of wheels is coupled to the ring by a radial guidance arrangement. Each group of wheels includes at least two wheels engaged with the rail, and each wheel being mounted to rotate on a radially-oriented pin, said pin being mounted directly on said ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Michel Andre Bouru
  • Patent number: 7934902
    Abstract: A turbine engine locates an actuator (55) for the compressor variable guide vanes (54a, b, c) at a location remote from the variable guide vanes. The actuator is connected to the variable guide vanes through a torque rod (56) inside an inlet guide vane. The torque rod rotatably drives an activation ring (57) about the engine centerline. The activation ring is coupled to each of the variable compressor vanes via linkage, such that rotation of the activation ring about the engine centerline causes all of the variable compressor vanes to pivot. With this configuration, a tip turbine engine can be more easily provided with variable compressor vanes for the axial compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian Merry
  • Patent number: 7922445
    Abstract: A variable inlet guide vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, where the guide vanes are pivotably connected to a sync ring that is contained within an annular groove within the casing so that leakage through holes in the casing is minimized. The guide vanes include a slider mechanism on one of the ends that will allow for both an axial and a rotational movement of the guide vane pin when the guide vanes pivot about a fixed pin on an opposite end of the guide vanes. a round rotary vane actuator with a height much less than a diameter is mounted outside of the casing and connects to the sync ring through a driving linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William W Pankey, Jack W. Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7901178
    Abstract: A variable vane mechanism comprises a variable vane, an inner diameter shroud and a synchronizing mechanism. The variable vane comprises a vane body, an inner diameter trunnion extending radially inwardly from the vane body, and a button connected to the inner diameter trunnion and displaced radially inwardly from the inner diameter trunnion. The shroud comprises a shroud body, a socket extending into the shroud body for receiving the inner diameter trunnion, a flange extending into the socket for engaging the button and inhibiting radial movement of the variable vane, and a synchronizing channel extending through the inner diameter shroud aft of the socket so as to be bounded by the shroud body and opening to the socket. The synchronizing mechanism is disposed inside the synchronizing channel and connects to the inner diameter trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Giaimo, John P. Tirone, III
  • Patent number: 7871242
    Abstract: A rotational flow balance system includes an actuator system which controls operation of both a fan duct blocker ring and a modulated exhaust cooling ring through a kinematic system. The kinematic system is controlled by the single actuator system such that the modulated exhaust cooling ring will remain in a fixed position while the fan duct blocker ring can be moved to satisfy operational requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Carl T. Elving, Robert T. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7854585
    Abstract: A variable geometry compressor for use in, for example, a turbocharger. A swing-vane diffuser is provided down-stream of the centrifugal compressor wheel. A nozzle ring is adjustable mounted on a center housing, and defines the nozzle face for the compressor diffuser. No spacers are deployed in the diffuser thereby improving efficiency, yet by stacking only the vanes and the nozzle ring, the diffuser clearances are maintained within strict tolerances. Further, seals, such as O-rings, are situated between the nozzle ring and the compressor housing and back plate to eliminate deleterious gas leaks between the diffuser and the spaces behind the nozzle ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Dominique Petitjean
  • Patent number: 7854586
    Abstract: An inner air seal carrier for use in a gas turbine engine having an inlet guide vane surge retainer comprises a body, a stationary sealing element and an outcropping. The body secures around an inlet guide vane inner diameter shroud. The stationary sealing element is disposed on a radially inward face of the body for engaging with a rotatable sealing element of a compressor rotor. The outcropping is positioned on the radially inward face of the body forward of the stationary sealing element for engaging with the surge retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Major, Edward Torres
  • Patent number: 7850421
    Abstract: A stator arrangement, or distributor, for a turbine machine is disclosed which includes a guide blade. The blade shaft is supported to be able to pivot around the pivot axis, with a part which is to be guided being situated to the outside. The pivoting device contains a setting ring which is located outside a flow channel and which can be pivoted around the turbine axis, and adjusting levers which transmit torque from the setting ring to the blade shaft of each guide blade. The adjusting lever is slipped with one end onto the blade shaft. The other end can be configured as a ball head, the adjusting levers being guided in a groove of the setting ring. The surface which acts on the ball head of the adjusting lever for transmission of torque from the setting ring to the blade shaft of each guide blade can be configured as a ball socket. Exemplary embodiments can yield a uniform large-area pressure distribution by which the wear of the parts which press on one another can be distinctly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventors: Josef Bättig, Robert Dötl
  • Patent number: RE42523
    Abstract: A variable pitch stator vane stage, said vanes being moved by an automatically-centered rotary actuator ring. The casing carries a stationary coaxial annular rail projecting from its outside surface, and circumferentially spaced apart moving equipments are provided that are constrained to move along said rail, each moving equipment being coupled to the actuator ring via a radial guide arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Michel Andre Bouru