Selectively Adjustable Patents (Class 415/173.2)
  • Patent number: 11970946
    Abstract: A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a baffle positioned outward along the radial direction from the case to define a chamber therebetween. The baffle has a forward end and an aft end. The forward end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a first seal and the aft end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a second seal. The baffle, the case, or both define an inlet to allow a fluid to enter the chamber and the case defines an outlet to allow the fluid to exit the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Travis J. Packer, James Hamilton Grooms, David Fasig, Richard William Jendrix, Scott Alan Schimmels, Bradford Alan Tracey, Michael Alan Hile, Thomas Ryan Wallace
  • Patent number: 11965422
    Abstract: A variable guide vane assembly for a gas turbine engine stator is provided. The variable guide vane assembly includes a plurality of vanes and a plurality of RT mechanisms. The vanes extend between a shroud and hub. The vanes are circumferentially disposed and spaced apart from one another. Each vane includes inner and outer radial ends, and inner and outer radial posts. Each vane is pivotally mounted to rotate about its rotational axis. Each RT mechanism is in communication with the inner or outer radial post of a respective vane. The RT mechanism includes a pin connected to the vane that is disposed in a ramp slot non-rotational relative to the pivotable vane. The ramp slot extends between first and second lengthwise ends. Rotation of the vane relative to the ramp slot causes the pin to travel within the ramp slot and the vane to translate linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Daniel Poick
  • Patent number: 11867068
    Abstract: Certain examples disclose and describe apparatus and methods to provide fast response active clearance system with piezoelectric actuator in axial, axial/radial combined, and circumferential directions. In some examples, an apparatus includes an actuator to control clearance between a blade and at least one of a shroud or a hanger, the actuator including a multilayer stack of material, and wherein the actuator is outside a case. The apparatus further includes a rod coupled to the actuator and the at least one of the shroud or the hanger through an opening in the case, the rod to move the at least one of the shroud or the hanger in a radial direction based on axial movement of the multilayer stack of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Taehong Kim, Tyler F. Hooper
  • Patent number: 11821629
    Abstract: A combustion chamber, in particular for a gas turbine, includes a support structure, a plurality of retaining elements fastened to the support structure, and a plurality of heat shield elements which jointly form a heat shield and which each have a hot gas side, a cold gas side and end faces which interconnect the hot gas side and the cold gas side, the retaining elements interlockingly engaging in recesses in the heat shield elements. The retaining elements each have at least two engagement portions for interlockingly engaging in the recesses in a heat shield element, which engagement portions are interconnected in a tensionally rigid manner and are tensionally rigid themselves. Spring elements extend between the support structure and the heat shield elements, which spring elements are designed in particular as leaf springs and effect a frictional connection between the engagement portions of the retaining elements and the heat shield elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Gralki, Claus Krusch, Daniel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11773741
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A shroud assembly of a gas turbine engine includes: a first shroud arm having a first end and a second end, the first end to couple to an outer wall and the second end to couple to a first shroud pad, and a second shroud arm having a first end and a second end, the first end to couple to the outer wall and the second end to couple to a second shroud pad, at least one of the first shroud pad or the second shroud pad to move radially outward toward the outer wall in response to a rotor blade contacting the at least one of the first shroud pad or the second shroud pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Praveen Sharma, Jeffrey D. Carnes, Herbert Chidsey Roberts
  • Patent number: 11719115
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a first turbine rotor assembly having a plurality of first turbine rotor blades extended within a gas flowpath, and a second turbine rotor assembly positioned aft along the gas flowpath of the first turbine rotor assembly. The second turbine rotor assembly is rotatably separate from the first turbine rotor assembly. A casing surrounds the first turbine rotor assembly. The casing has a unitary, integral outer casing wall extended forward of the first turbine rotor assembly and aft of the first turbine rotor assembly. The casing includes a plurality of vanes extended from the outer casing wall and through the gas flowpath aft of the first turbine rotor assembly and forward of the second turbine rotor assembly. The casing includes a plurality of walls forming thermal control rings extended outward along the radial direction from the outer casing wall. The outer casing wall and the thermal control rings is a unitary, integral structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, GENERAL ELECTRIC DEUTSCHLAND HOLDING GMBH, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY POLSKA SP. Z O.O
    Inventors: Tomasz Edward Berdowski, Ashish Sharma, Raymond Floyd Martell, Piotr Jerzy Kulinski, Lukasz Maciej Janczak
  • Patent number: 11702949
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a carrier, a seal segment, and a mount assembly. The carrier is configured to be coupled to a turbine case. The seal segment is shaped to define a gas path boundary of the shroud assembly. The mounting assembly is configured to couple the seal segment to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11629722
    Abstract: A frequency tuning rib is provided on an impeller shroud to alter a natural frequency of the shroud so as to avoid coincidence with the aerodynamic excitation frequencies to which the shroud is exposed during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nicola Houle, Bernard Chow
  • Patent number: 11499444
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a carrier, a seal segment, and a mount assembly. The carrier is configured to be coupled to a turbine case. The seal segment is shaped to define a gas path boundary of the shroud assembly. The mounting assembly is configured to couple the seal segment to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11459902
    Abstract: A unique seal for a wave rotor disk engine is disclosed herein. The seal is operable for sealing a region between a rotor and a rotor casing. The seal is spring loaded and will engage with the tip of the rotor to reduce pressure loss within the wave rotor disk engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Christopher Tait, Pejman Akbari, Brian Sell, Marc Polanka
  • Patent number: 11428112
    Abstract: A propulsion system including a casing surrounding a fan rotor assembly is provided. An example casing includes an outer layer material, an inner layer material including first openings extended partially through the inner layer material along a radial direction of a first side of the inner layer material, and second openings extended partially through the inner layer material along the radial direction of a second side of the inner layer material opposite the first side, and a spring member coupled to the outer layer material and the inner layer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Nitesh Jain, Manoj Kumar Jain
  • Patent number: 11407504
    Abstract: A tip gap control system for a ducted aircraft includes a flight control computer including an inner duct surface control module configured to generate an inner duct surface actuator command and a proprotor system in data communication with the flight control computer. The proprotor system includes a duct having active inner duct surfaces movable into various positions including a retracted position and an extended position. The proprotor system also includes proprotor blades surrounded by the duct and one or more actuators coupled to the active inner duct surfaces. The one or more actuators move the active inner duct surfaces between the various positions based on the inner duct surface actuator command, thereby controlling a tip gap between the proprotor blades and the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Knoll, George Matthew Thompson, Nicholas Ralph Carlson
  • Patent number: 11319828
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a carrier, a seal segment, and a mount assembly. The carrier is configured to be coupled to a turbine case. The seal segment is shaped to define a gas path boundary of the shroud assembly. The mounting assembly is configured to couple the seal segment to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11293297
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling turbine blade tip clearance is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Oleksiy Korepin, Jin Bong Ha
  • Patent number: 11268445
    Abstract: In a gas turbine, a plurality of blade ring parts each include a plurality of first cooling flow passages, a plurality of second cooling flow passages, and a return flow passage. The first cooling flow passages are disposed on the outer side in a radial direction centering on a rotation axis, extend in an axial direction, and are disposed aligned in an axial rotation direction. The second cooling flow passages are disposed on an inner side in the radial direction with respect to the first cooling flow passages, extend in the axial direction, and are disposed aligned in the axial rotation direction. The return flow passage connects end parts of each of the first cooling flow passages and the second cooling flow passages on the same side in the axial direction with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Naoya Tatsumi, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Yuki Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11225880
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes adjacent components and a probe assembly. The probe assembly is configured to measure a distance between the probe assembly and blades located radially inward of the adjacent components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Shoemaker, Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11131207
    Abstract: A semi-autonomous rapid response active clearance control system for a gas turbine engine includes an outer case, a carrier for a blade outer airseal positioned radially inward of the outer case, a blade outer airseal positioned radially inward of and mounted to the carrier, at least one electromechanical actuator attached to the outer case and selectively operable to move the carrier, and a sensing system. The sensing system includes a maneuver sensor housed within the actuator and configured to output a first signal, a position sensor mounted proximate to the blade outer airseal and configured to output a second signal, and a control means in communication with the maneuver sensor and the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Farris, Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 11073037
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal assembly includes a blade outer air seal that has a plurality of segments that extend circumferentially about an axis and are mounted in a support structure via a carrier. At least one of the segments have a first wall circumferentially spaced from a second wall. A base portion extends from the first wall to the second wall. The first and second walls extend at an angle less than 90° from the base portion. The carrier has a flat portion that extends from the first wall to the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Thomas E. Clark
  • Patent number: 10989059
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal includes a base portion that extends between a first circumferential side and a second circumferential side and from a first axial side to a second axial side. A first hook extends from the base portion and circumferentially spaced from a second hook. The first and second hooks extend along an axial length of the base portion. The first circumferential side has a protrusion and the second circumferential side has a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas E. Clark, William M. Barker
  • Patent number: 10927687
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade containment system is disclosed. The blade containment system may include a generally cylindrical casing being made of a first material, and a generally cylindrical ring being made of a second material coaxially surrounding the casing, at least some portion of the ring metallurgically bonded to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Vargas, Robert Russell Mayer
  • Patent number: 10655501
    Abstract: A turbine ring assembly includes ring sectors made of ceramic matrix composite material forming a turbine ring and a ring support structure having first and second annular flanges, each ring sector having first and second tabs held between the flanges. First and second holder elements secured to the first annular flange being received in first and second openings in the first tab, while first and second holder elements secured to the second annular flange are in first and second openings in the second tab. Radial clearance is being present when cold between the openings and the portions of the holder elements present in the openings. The first and second annular flanges include, on their faces facing the first and second tabs, a plurality of thrust portions distributed in circumferential manner over the flanges, the ends of the tabs, when cold, being in radial abutment against two thrust portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: SAFRAN CERAMICS, SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Gilles Lepretre, Thierry Tesson, Adéle Lyprendi, Thomas Revel
  • Patent number: 10619514
    Abstract: An assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine. The assembly includes a support component comprising metallic materials, a supported component comprising ceramic matrix composite materials, and an attachment pin configured to couple the supported component to the support component. The attachment pin includes compliant features to distributes loads applied to the supported component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Walston, Daniel K. Vetters
  • Patent number: 10619517
    Abstract: A turbine ring assembly includes ring sectors made of ceramic matrix composite forming a ring and a ring support structure. Each sector includes an annular base with, in a radial direction, an inside face and an outside face from which extend two attachment tabs held between two radial tabs of the structure. The assembly also includes, for each sector, at least two pins cooperating with one of the attachment tabs and the corresponding radial tab, and at least one pin cooperating with the other attachment tab and the corresponding radial tab. The first radial tab includes a first annular radial portion integral to the structure, and a removable second annular radial portion extending radially toward the center of the ring over a greater portion than said first radial annular portion, the portion extending beyond the first annular radial portion including orifices for receiving one of the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Lucien Henri Jacques Quennehen, Sébastien Serge Francis Congratel, Clément Jean Pierre Duffau, Nicolas Paul Tableau
  • Patent number: 10612405
    Abstract: A system for retaining stators and reducing air leakage in a gas turbine engine having an axis includes a stator having an inner platform, an outer platform, a low pressure side, a high pressure side, and at least one foot, and designed to turn air. The system also includes a case positioned radially outward from the stator and having at least one recess designed to interface with the at least one foot to resist movement of the stator relative to the case. The system also includes a bladder positioned between the outer platform of the stator and the case and designed to receive pressurized fluid having a greater pressure than ambient pressures experienced at the low pressure side of the stator and to further resist movement of the stator relative to the case in response to receiving the pressurized fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 10598045
    Abstract: A turbine ring assembly includes ring sectors forming a turbine ring and a ring support structure, each ring sector having, in a section plane defined by an axial direction and a radial direction of the turbine ring, a portion forming an annular base with, in the radial direction, an inside face defining the inside face of the turbine ring and an outside face from which a first and a second attachment tab protrude, the ring support structure having a central annulus from which a first and a second radial tab protrude, between which the first and second attachment tabs of each ring sector are held. The first radial tab comprises a one-piece annular flange that is fastened in a removable manner to the central annulus of the ring support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Nicolas Paul Tableau, Sébastien Serge Francis Congratel, Clément Jean Pierre Duffau, Lucien Henri Jacques Quennehen
  • Patent number: 10378385
    Abstract: A turbine ring assembly includes ring sectors made of ceramic matrix composite material forming a turbine ring, and a ring support structure having first and second annular flanges, each ring sector having tabs. The first tab includes an annular groove in which there is received an annular projection of the first flange. The second tab of each ring sector is connected to the ring support structure by a resilient retention element. The second tab includes an opening in which there is received a portion of a retention element secured to the second annular flange of the ring support structure. The retention element is made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic matrix composite material of the ring sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Thierry Tesson, Maxime Carlin, Jordan Caron
  • Patent number: 10301960
    Abstract: Shroud assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A shroud assembly includes a hanger having a forward hanger arm, a rear hanger arm, and a hanger body extending between the forward hanger arm and the rear hanger arm. The shroud assembly further includes a shroud having a forward surface, a rear surface, and an inner surface and outer surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface, the outer surface radially spaced from the inner surface, the shroud connected to the hanger. The shroud assembly further includes a support member positioned axially forward of the forward hanger arm, the support member having a radially outer portion connected to the forward hanger arm and a radially inner portion axially spaced from the shroud such that a gap is defined between the radially inner portion and an axially adjacent surface of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Scott Stapleton, Bryce Loring Heitman, Laura Isabelle Armanios
  • Patent number: 10190503
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a fluid based engineering system are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a model processor for generating a model output, the model processor including a set state module for setting dynamic states of the model processor, the dynamic states input to an open loop model based on the model operating mode, wherein the open loop model generates a current state model as a function of the dynamic states and the model input, wherein a constraint on the current state model is based a series of cycle synthesis modules, each member of the series of cycle synthesis modules modeling a component of a cycle of the control system and including a series of utilities, the utilities are based on mathematical abstractions of physical properties associated with the component, the series of cycle synthesis modules including a rotary apparatus module which estimates a tip clearance between the rotor and the rotor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Ian Michael Dinsmore, Richard P. Neisner, John L. Shade
  • Patent number: 10087770
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10024163
    Abstract: Methods for material build-up on a tip of a blade of a gas turbine engine are provided. The method can include inserting a material supply and an inflatable bladder between the tip and a shroud such that the material supply is exposed to the tip and the inflatable bladder is positioned between the material supply and a shroud, inflating the inflatable bladder to force contact between the material supply and the tip, and causing relative movement between the material supply and the tip. The relative movement, in combination with the radial biased contact between the material supply and the tip, creates heat through friction. As such, the relative movement can frictionally weld new material from the material supply onto the tip of the blade. For example, the heat created can be sufficient to melt the surface of the material supply to transfer material from the material supply to the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Scott Diwinsky, Herbert Chidsey Roberts
  • Patent number: 9835039
    Abstract: A turbomachine in the form of a stationary gas turbine or an aircraft engine, respectively a housing structure therefor; the housing structure including an outer housing wall (1) and an inner wall (2) defining the flow channel; and a hollow space (4) being formed between the inner wall and the outer housing wall. The hollow space is separable into at least two regions (5, 6); a movable wire element (slide ring seal) (10, 10?), which is adapted to rest against the contact faces (8, 9), being configured in the hollow space for purposes of the separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Manfred Feldmann, Norbert Schinko, Janine Sangl
  • Patent number: 9631510
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a turbine seal assembly comprising: a seal installation groove formed inside a casing; at least one seal member that has at least one tip portion formed in a blade direction and is installed in the seal installation groove; at least one elastic member for elastically connecting the casing to the seal member, wherein an inlet for an inflow of compressed gas is formed in the seal installation groove, and wherein a first space which the compressed gas enters is formed in the seal member, and at least one flow pathway which connects the first space to a space between a blade and the seal member is formed in the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan-sun Lim
  • Patent number: 9488062
    Abstract: A clearance control system for a turbine having a stator assembly and a rotor assembly includes a hydraulic or pneumatic controller that axially drives, through a shaft, one or more actuators connected to the stator assembly casing. The controller causes relative movement between the stator and rotor assemblies to adjust the clearances between portions of the stator and rotor in accordance with the varying operating conditions of the turbine. More particularly, the controller moves the stator relative to the rotor in first and second axial directions to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction during the operating conditions of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Black, Rohit Pruthi, Sanjay Shankar Jadhav, Pradeep Ghute
  • Patent number: 9255524
    Abstract: An example turbomachine system includes a first variable outer air seal including at least one channel. The first variable outer air seal configured to selectively communicate a fluid in response to movement of a second variable outer air seal relative to the first variable outer air seal. An example fluid control method includes selectively covering a channel inlet using a variable outer air seal to control flow through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Meggan Harris
  • Patent number: 9228447
    Abstract: An adjustable blade outer air seal apparatus includes a case structure that extends circumferentially, a support ring structure mounted radially inwards of the case structure and at least one blade outer air seal segment radially adjustably mounted relative to the support ring structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 9057281
    Abstract: An axial turbomachine including a rotor-blade cascade is provided. The turbomachine includes a casing in which the cascade is installed and a guide-blade carrier which encloses the cascade and is integrated into the inner side of the housing. The guide-blade carrier is arranged immediately adjacently to the blade tips faulting a radial gap, wherein the guide-blade carrier is mounted in the housing, such that it may be displaced parallel to the axis of the axial turbomachine, and includes an adjusting ring which is supported on contact surfaces on the housing and guide-blade carrier and may be rotated about the axis, wherein the contact surfaces of the adjusting ring and of the housing and/or of the guide-blade carrier are set with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis, so that, when the adjusting ring is rotated about the axis, the guide-blade carrier is displaced axially by the adjusting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Francois Benkler, Andreas Böttcher, Uwe Kahlstorf, Torsten Matthias, Dieter Minninger, Oliver Schneider, Peter Schröder, Vyacheslav Veitsman
  • Publication number: 20150098807
    Abstract: A system for providing sealing in a turbine is provided. The sealing system includes a retaining channel oriented within a housing structure proximate a moving turbine component. A seal member is coupled within the retaining channel. A first end of the seal member is secured to the housing structure. A second end of the seal member is movable relative to the retaining channel between first and second positions corresponding to a transient operational mode and a steady state operational mode, respectively. The transient operational mode defines a first clearance between the seal member and the moving turbine component. The steady state configuration defines a second clearance that is smaller than the first clearance. A take-up device coupled to the second end of the seal member moves the second end between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Fred Thomas Willett, JR.
  • Patent number: 8998563
    Abstract: An active clearance control system for a gas turbine engine includes a structural member that is configured to be arranged near a blade tip. A plenum includes first and second walls respectively providing first and second cavities. The first wall includes impingement holes. The plenum is arranged over the structural member. A fluid source is fluidly connected to the second cavity to provide an impingement cooling flow from the second cavity through the impingement holes to the first cavity onto the structural member. A method includes the steps of providing a conditioning fluid to an outer cavity of a plenum providing an impingement cooling flow through impingement holes from an inner wall of the plenum to an inner cavity, directing the impingement cooling flow onto a structural member, and conditioning a temperature of the structural member with the impingement cooling flow to control a blade tip clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Philip Robert Rioux
  • Patent number: 8985944
    Abstract: A composite annular shroud supported by a support assembly including at least two single piece full 360 degree rings and at least partially disposed within an innermost one of the rings. The shroud is biased against and in sealing engagement with an inner flange of the innermost ring. A three ring assembly includes the inner ring disposed radially inwardly of a middle ring disposed radially inwardly of an outer ring and the shroud at least partially disposed within the inner ring. At least three clocking pins extend radially inwardly from the middle ring through slots in the inner ring into notches in the shroud. The middle ring may be an aft end of a support ring fixedly connected to an engine backbone. Mounting pins may be press fitted into pin holes in the middle ring and extend radially outwardly from the middle ring through radial holes in the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason David Shapiro, Jared Peter Buhler, Brian Kenneth Corsetti
  • Patent number: 8961115
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine section has a rotor carrying a plurality of blades. The blades have airfoils which define a radially outer tip. A blade outer air seal is positioned radially outwardly of the tips of the blades. The blade outer air seal is provided by at least a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments, which slide circumferentially relative to each other to adjust an inner diameter of an inner surface of the blade outer air seal segments. An actuator actuates the blade outer air seal segments to slide towards each other to control a clearance between the inner periphery of the blade outer air seal segments and the radially outer tip of the blade airfoils. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter L. Jalbert
  • Publication number: 20150044018
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique active seal system. Another embodiment is another unique active seal system. Another embodiment is a unique method for operating a turbomachine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for active seal systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 8944756
    Abstract: An example blade outer air seal assembly includes a blade outer air seal that is biased toward a second part. The blade outer air seal and the second part move together radially during operation. Radial inward movement of the blade outer air seal is limited exclusively by the second part during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Lagueux
  • Patent number: 8939709
    Abstract: A system for operating a turbine includes a rotating component and a non-rotating component separated from the rotating component by a clearance. A first actuator is connected to the non-rotating component, and the first actuator comprises a shape-memory alloy. A method for operating a turbine includes sensing a parameter reflective of a clearance between a non-rotating component and a rotating component and generating a parameter signal reflective of the clearance. The method further includes generating a control signal to at least one actuator based on the parameter signal and moving at least a portion of the non-rotating component relative to the rotating component to change the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Rakesh Adoor, Hariharan Sundaram, James Adaickalasamy, Prasad Punna
  • Patent number: 8939715
    Abstract: A turbine bucket tip clearance control system includes a rotor assembly having a rotor supporting a plurality of axially spaced wheels, each wheel mounting an annular row of buckets, the annular row of buckets on at least one of the plurality of axially-spaced wheels having a radially outer tip shroud provided with at least one seal tooth. A stator assembly includes a radially inwardly facing, axially-stepped surface, formed with radially inner and outer seal surfaces connected by a shoulder. The stator assembly and rotor assembly are moveable axially relative to each other, enabling selective positioning of the at least one seal tooth radially opposite one of the radially inner and outer seal surfaces to thereby selectively alter a clearance gap between the at least one seal tooth and the radially inward facing axially-stepped surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harold Edward Miller
  • Publication number: 20150016946
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a clearance between the blades of a turbomachinery component and flow forming surface are disclosed herein, and includes controlling the clearance by moving the surface axially relative to the turbomachinery component. In one embodiment the apparatus includes an impeller rotatable about a first axis, a shroud encircling the impeller, and a first ring encircling the first axis. An actuator is operably engaged with the first ring to pivot the first ring about the first axis. The apparatus also includes at least one cam engaged with the first ring and at least one cam follower engaged with the shroud. Pivoting movement of the first ring about the first axis results in the at least one cam urging the at least one cam follower and the shroud along the first axis to vary a distance between the plurality of blades and the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Nathan W. Ottow
  • Publication number: 20150003972
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a turbine seal assembly comprising: a seal installation groove formed inside a casing; at least one seal member that has at least one tip portion formed in a blade direction and is installed in the seal installation groove; at least one elastic member for elastically connecting the casing to the seal member, wherein an inlet for an inflow of compressed gas is formed in the seal installation groove, and wherein a first space which the compressed gas enters is formed in the seal member, and at least one flow pathway which connects the first space to a space between a blade and the seal member is formed in the seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chan-sun Lim
  • Patent number: 8894358
    Abstract: A clearance control arrangement includes first and second components defining a clearance therebetween. The first component includes a surface portion having at least a layer of material that changes thickness when actuated. The clearance control arrangement also includes an actuator to actuate the layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Marko Bacic
  • Publication number: 20140271147
    Abstract: A turbine shroud or blade track assembly adapted to extend around a turbine wheel assembly is disclosed. The turbine shroud includes a carrier and a blade track coupled to the carrier. The blade track is movable between a radially-inward position having a first inner diameter and a radially-outward position having a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Richard C. Uskert, Joseph P. Lamusga, Aaron D. Sippel
  • Patent number: 8801361
    Abstract: A machine includes a rotor supported to rotate about a rotational axis and an actuator arranged to act on the rotor and control a position of the rotor about the rotational axis. A bladed turbomachine wheel is coupled to the rotor and has blade tips that pass closely to an adjacent, non-rotating surface. A sensor is adjacent to the turbomachine wheel and arranged to sense the blade tips and output a position signal representative of the position of blade tips relative to the sensor. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the actuator and is adapted to receive the position signal from the sensor and generate and send a control signal to the actuator to control the position of the rotor based on the position signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Calnetix Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8734090
    Abstract: A rotor blade tip clearance control apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed segments which form an annular shroud surrounding the outer tips of a row of rotor blades. A mechanical arrangement is operatively connected to the segments. Actuation of the arrangement causes the segments to move in a radial direction thereby controlling a clearance between the segments and the outer tips. A case cooling system supplies cooling air to an engine case to which the segments are mounted. The cooling air regulates thermal expansion of the case and thereby also controls the clearance between the segments and the outer tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Leo V. Lewis