Between Blade Supported Radial Tip Ring And Static Part Patents (Class 415/173.6)
  • Publication number: 20140261582
    Abstract: An appliance pump is provided having a seal ring that can reduce or eliminate noise that can occur when e.g., the pump experiences air or an under-primed condition. The seal ring uses one or biasing members to urge the seal ring into a position to prevent rattling or other vibrations that cause such noise. The present invention also includes seal ring having such construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Steven Chadwick Koepke
  • Patent number: 8834096
    Abstract: In an axial flow gas turbine efficient cooling and a long life-time can be achieved by providing the outer blade platforms (45) with a plurality of outer teeth (46a-c) running parallel to each other in the circumferential direction and being arranged one after the other in the direction of the hot gas flow. The teeth (46a-c) are divided into first and second teeth (46a; 46b-c), the second teeth (46b-c) being located downstream of the first teeth (46a), the first teeth (46a) are opposite to a downstream projection (33) of the adjacent vanes (21) of the turbine stage (TS), and the second teeth (46b-c) are opposite to the respective stator heat shields (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Alexander Anatolievich Khanin
  • Patent number: 8807928
    Abstract: The present application provides a tip shroud assembly for use with a turbine engine. The tip shroud assembly may include a shroud, a seal rail positioned on the shroud, and a contoured fillet attaching the seal rail to the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Spencer Aaron Kareff, Jason Herzlinger, Harish Bommanakatte
  • Publication number: 20140212261
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan with a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis and a shroud and a speed change device in communication with the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8753093
    Abstract: A turbine bucket includes an airfoil portion and a tip shroud at a radially outer end of the airfoil portion. The tip shroud includes a first radially inner tip shroud component formed integrally with the airfoil portion and composed of a first metal material, and a second radially outer structural tip shroud component composed of a second metal material bonded to the first radially inner tip shroud component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary Liotta
  • Patent number: 8740572
    Abstract: A wear- and oxidation-resistant turbine blade and a method for producing the blade are provided. At least portions of the surface of the main blade section are provided with at least one first protective coating comprised of oxidation-resistant material, the first, oxidation-resistant coating is a metallic coating, which is optionally covered by a ceramic thermal barrier coating. The metallic first protective coating is arranged at least at the inner and outer crown edge of the blade tip, but not at the radially outer blade tip. The radially outer blade tip of the turbine blade is comprised of a second, single- or multi-layer wear- and oxidation-resistant protective coating, which is built up by laser metal forming and is comprised of abrasive and binder materials. The second protective coating on the blade tip overlaps along the outer and/or inner crown edge at least partially with the first, metallic protective coating arranged there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthias Hoebel, Günter Ambrosy, Felix Reinert, Stephane Barril
  • Patent number: 8727713
    Abstract: A rotor oscillation preventing structure for a steam turbine includes: a stator vane 3; a moving blade 1; a shroud cover 2 installed on an outer circumferential side distal end of the moving blade 1; and a plurality of seal fins 6 installed, at any interval in the axial direction of a rotor, on an wall surface of a stationary body located on an outer circumferential side of the shroud cover 2, a whirl preventing structure comprised of whirl preventing plates 9 or whirl preventing grooves 11 is provided at a shroud cover inlet return portion 10 of the shroud cover 2 so as to block the whirl flow of leakage flow 8 on an upstream side in an operating steam flow direction of the seal fins to reduce an absolute velocity component of the leakage flow 8 in a rotational direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Ono, Takeshi Kudo, Kenichi Murata, Masataka Sonobe, Tsutomu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8708639
    Abstract: The present application provides an axial flow turbine. The axial flow turbine may include a stator casing and a turbine bucket positioned about the stator casing. A tip shroud may be positioned on the turbine bucket. A shroud tail may be attached to the tip shroud at a downstream end of the tip shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Moorthi Subramaniyan
  • Patent number: 8662835
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle for a turbomachine, including inner and outer annular platforms connected together by vanes, the inner platform carrying annular elements of abradable material co-operating with annular wipers of a rotor of the turbomachine to form a labyrinth seal, these elements of abradable material being carried by annular sheet-metal sectors of substantially L-, S-, or C-shaped section that are fastened by brazing or welding at their outer peripheries to the inner platform and at their inner peripheries to the elements of abradable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Thierry Fachat, Patrick Joseph Marie Girard, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Publication number: 20140023490
    Abstract: A fastener is provided for connecting two or more structural elements having matching apertures which, when aligned, form a frusto-conical cavity. The fastener includes a body portion having a frusto-conical outer surface which is receivable in the aligned apertures of the structural elements such that the outer surface of the body portion is in mating engagement with the cavity formed by the aligned apertures. The fastener further includes an elongate member which extends from the body portion at the narrow end of the frusto-conical outer surface. The fastener further includes a fixing element carried by the elongate member. The fixing element is operable to exert a clamping force between the frusto-conical outer surface and the fixing element to retain the structural elements in connection therebetween. The fastener further includes a through-hole which extends along the elongate member and which allows fluid communication between opposing sides of the connected structural elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Steven HILLIER
  • Patent number: 8632309
    Abstract: A blade is disclosed for a gas turbine including an airfoil, which extends along a longitudinal axis from a blade root to a blade tip, and has a shroud segment at the blade tip. The shroud segment abuts with first and second edges against shroud segments of adjacent blades to form a ring-like shroud. The first and second edges are each provided with a respective side rail on the upper side of the shroud segment. Each of the side rails is subdivided into sections of different height and/or width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Igor Tsypkaykin, Ruben Valiente, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Beat Von Arx, Andre Saxer
  • Publication number: 20140003918
    Abstract: A seal structure for a gas turbine engine, the seal structure including first and second components located adjacent to each other and forming a barrier between high and low pressure zones. A seal cavity is defined in the first and second components, the seal cavity extending to either side of an elongated gap extending generally in a first direction between the first and second components. A seal member is positioned within the seal cavity and spans across the elongated gap. The seal member includes first and second side edges extending into each of the components in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and opposing longitudinal edges extending between the side edges generally parallel to the first direction. The side edges include a groove formed therein for effecting a reduction of gas flow around the seal member at the side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Santiago Salazar, Andrew Gisch
  • Patent number: 8616847
    Abstract: A squealer tip preform having a coating including an abrasive is disclosed. The squealer tip may be separately formed from a generally elongated blade to which the squealer tip preform is configured to be attached. The squealer tip may be configured such that an outer surface of the squealer tip preform is generally aligned with an outer side surface of the turbine blade defining a cross-sectional profile of the turbine blade. Forming the squealer tip preform with an abrasive coating separate from the turbine blade greatly reduces costs and improves efficiency as compared with conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Allen
  • Patent number: 8585357
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) support segment for supporting at least one BOAS segment of a static turbine shroud of a gas turbine engine, includes a radially and outwardly extending front leg for engagement with an outer case of the engine. The BOAS support segment further includes a pair of radially elongated rear prongs circumferentially spaced apart from each other and radially outwardly abutting the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Franco DiPaola, Roger Gates
  • Patent number: 8555477
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the clearance between a stator member and the tip of a rotor member in a rotor apparatus. The system comprises a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the radial position of the stator member to any one of at least two and preferably three different radial positions. The system further comprises a variable pressure chamber having a first pressure state and a second pressure state. The system is arranged for applying a force for maintaining the stator member in either one of said at least two radial positions when said chamber is in said first pressure state and for allowing the position adjustment mechanism to adjust the radial position of the stator member between said at least two positions when the chamber is in said second pressure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Peter R Bates
  • Patent number: 8550774
    Abstract: A turbine arrangement with a rotor and a stator surrounding the rotor forming a flow path for hot and pressurized combustion gases between the rotor and the stator is provided. The rotor defines a radial direction and a circumferential direction and includes turbine blades extending in the radial direction through the flow path towards the stator. The turbine blades have shrouds located at their tips and the stator includes a wall section along which the shrouds move when the rotor is turning. A supersonic nozzle is located in the wall section and is connected to a cooling fluid provider. The supersonic nozzle provides a supersonic cooling fluid flow towards the shroud. The supersonic nozzle is angled with respect to the radial direction towards the circumferential direction in such an orientation that the supersonic cooling fluid flow has a flow component parallel to the moving direction of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: John David Maltson
  • Patent number: 8459939
    Abstract: A compressor stator blade 10 includes a seal mechanism 12 configured to hermetically seal a part between a radial inner end on the upstream side and an outer surface of a rotary body, and a remainder part on the downstream side of the seal mechanism includes a hub clearance 14 between the outer surface of the rotary body and itself. Additionally, a compressor rotor blade 20 includes a seal mechanism 22 configured to hermetically seal a part between a radial outer end on the upstream side and an inner surface of a stationary body, and a remainder part on the downstream side of the seal mechanism includes a tip clearance 24 between the inner surface of the stationary body and itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Goto, Takeshi Murooka
  • Patent number: 8444371
    Abstract: A seal system between a row of buckets supported on a machine rotor and a surrounding stationary casing or stator includes a tip shroud secured at radially outer tips of each of the buckets, the tip shroud formed with a radially-projecting rail. A cellular seal structure is supported in the stationary stator in radial opposition to the tip shroud and the rail. The seal structure has an annular array of individual cells formed to provide continuous, substantially horizontal flow passages devoid of any radial obstruction along substantially an entire axial length dimension of the cellular seal structure to prevent flow about the tip shroud from turning radially inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshy John, Sanjeev Kumar Jain, Rajnikumar Nandalal Suthar
  • Publication number: 20130089421
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine airfoil extending from an airfoil base to an airfoil tip at a free end of the airfoil and from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the airfoil has at least one recess extending into and circumferentially completely through the airfoil tip and located inwardly of the leading and trailing edges. The recess is located in an area of the airfoil tip subject to high tip vibratory stress and or rubs and may be a circular scallop having a scallop radius and a maximum depth of a few mills in a range of about 0.005-0.01 inches as measured from a nominal tip edge without the recess. The airfoil may be on a radial blade, a stator vane, or an impeller blade. An annular tip seal may surround a plurality of such airfoil tips with an airfoil tip clearance therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey Howard Nussbaum, Andrea MacPherson Cox, Catherine Lee Pommer
  • Publication number: 20130084169
    Abstract: The present application provides a tip shroud assembly for use with a turbine engine. The tip shroud assembly may include a shroud, a seal rail positioned on the shroud, and a contoured fillet attaching the seal rail to the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Spencer Aaron Kareff, Jason Herzlinger, Harish Bommanakatte
  • Patent number: 8388311
    Abstract: A turbomachinery includes a labyrinth seal (2) to prevent unstable vibration of a rotor formed by dividing the seal into segments (7) in a circumferential direction and combining the segments (7) whose comb teeth (5) differ in height. The labyrinth seal (2) preferably includes two kinds of segments (7) whose comb teeth (5) differ in height for each kind of segment, and the segments (7a) of the greater comb tooth height are arranged in a certain reference direction on a cross section right-angled to a rotational axis, and in a direction opposite to the reference direction, and the segments (7b) of the smaller comb tooth height are arranged in a direction right-angled to the reference direction, and in a direction opposite to that right-angled to the reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamaguchi, Yohei Magara, Toyomi Yoshida, Michiyuki Takagi, Kenichi Murata, Takeshi Kudo
  • Publication number: 20130045088
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component has an airfoil and a squealer tip. The airfoil has a pressure side and a suction side. The squealer tip is located at one end of the airfoil to engage with an adjacent surface and thereby form a seal. The squealer tip terminates in a squealer tip apex with an arched cross-sectional profile in a plane extending from the pressure side to the suction side of the airfoil. A method for producing an airfoil seal for the gas turbine engine component is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul W. Baumann
  • Publication number: 20120321449
    Abstract: Provided is a turbine in which seal fins (15) are provided to a hub shroud (41) to protrude toward a bottom surface (33a) of an annular groove (33), small gaps (H) are formed between the tip ends of the seal fins and the bottom surface of the annular groove, and assuming that the axial distance between a first seal fin (15a) disposed on the front edge side of the hub shroud among the seal fins and a front edge (41a) of the hub shroud is (L) and the axial distance between the front edge of the hub shroud and an inside surface (33b) of the annular groove is (Bu), the first seal fin is disposed to satisfy L/Bu<0.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Kuwamura, Hiroharu yama, Yoshinori Tanaka, Asaharu Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8333557
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided and includes a first member with a flow diverting member extending from a surface thereof and a second member disposed proximate to the first member with a clearance gap area defined between a surface of the second member and a distal end of the flow diverting member such that a fluid path, along which fluid flows from an upstream section and through the clearance gap area, is formed between the surfaces of the first and second members. The second member is formed to define dual vortex chambers at the upstream section in which the fluid is directed to flow in vortex patterns prior to being permitted to flow through the clearance gap area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshy John, Sanjeev Kumar Jain, Sachin Kumar Rai
  • Patent number: 8317465
    Abstract: A turbine engine that includes a vortex protrusion disposed upon a component that rotates during operation of the turbine engine; wherein the vortex protrusion includes an outer surface that is configured to induce a vortex flow pattern as the component rotates during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bruce L. Smith
  • Patent number: 8277180
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axial fan (1) for conveying cooling air for a cooling device of a motor vehicle, wherein the axial fan (1) has axial vanes (4) each having a front edge (4a) and a rear edge (4b), a van tip (4c) and a circumferential ring (5) which is connected to the vane tips (4c) and has an approach edge (5a) and a dispersing edge (5b). It is proposed that the approach edge (5a) of the circumferential rind (5) is set back in the flow direction (L) in relation to the front edges (4a) of the axial vanes (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Blass, Ulrich Vollert
  • Patent number: 8262357
    Abstract: The tip cooling arrangement of the present application reduces large cooling flow requirements which can compromise turbine performance. The tip cooling arrangement of the present application provides convective cooling of a turbine blade tip end, whether a flat tip or a squealer, by extending holes that provide fluid for film cooling the tip end. The holes are thus lengthened and extend from the relatively cooler suction side of the blade to the pressure side of the blade in close proximity to the floor of the tip end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Shantanu P. Mhetras
  • Patent number: 8202039
    Abstract: A fluid flow machine includes a main flow path in which at least one row of blades (3, 4) is arranged, and a blade shroud (2) which forms a confinement of the main flow path in the area of a blade row (3, 4) and is arranged in a recessed cavity (10) of a surrounding physical structure (11). The cavity (10) so formed between the shroud (2) and the surrounding physical structure (11) is provided with an annular connection (14) to the main flow path at least on the outflow side of the blade shroud (2), and with the blade shroud (2) being penetrated by at least one secondary flow path (16) which, commencing at a location of high pressure on the shroud (2), issues at a surface wetted by the main flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Volker Guemmer
  • Patent number: 8192166
    Abstract: A turbine blade is provided comprising: an airfoil including upper and lower ends; a root coupled to the airfoil lower end; a shroud coupled to the airfoil upper end; and at least one sealing rail extending radially outwardly from an upper surface of the shroud and extending generally along a circumferential length of the shroud. The sealing rail may comprise a mid-section, opposing end sections and at least one intermediate section located between the mid-section and one of the opposing end sections. An axial thickness of the rail may vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Beeck, Sankar Nellian
  • Publication number: 20120099971
    Abstract: An abrasive coating for rotor shafts that interact with cantilevered vanes to form an abradable air seal in a turbine engine. The abrasive coating including a metal bond coat layer on the rotor shaft, and an abrasive top coating bond coat layer for contact with vanes during operation of the rotor shaft, the abrasive coating including a plurality of abrasive grit particles in a matrix. the abrasive grit particles are selected from the group consisting of cubic boron nitride (CBN), zirconia, alumina, silicon carbide, diamond and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew E. Bintz, Christopher W. Strock
  • Patent number: 8152455
    Abstract: A suspension arrangement for the casing shroud segments of the high-pressure turbine of a jet engine with inclination or graduation of the rotor blade tips (4) includes spaced apart attaching hooks (11) formed onto the casing shroud segments (2) which engage an axial retaining groove (13) on the turbine casing (1) on the upstream side and which are axially retained in the downstream direction by a retaining ring (14) arranged in a retaining ring groove (15) formed onto the turbine casing. In the retaining ring groove (15), assembly pockets (19) are provided on the downstream side, with the assembly pockets (19) agreeing with the distance and dimensioning of the attaching hooks (11), so that—with the rotor installed—axial travel (s2) of the casing shroud segments (2) is reduced and handling clearance is increased, when the casing shroud segments (2) are installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Thomas Wunderlich
  • Patent number: 8147180
    Abstract: An axial flow turbine stage structure has: an annular diaphragm inner ring; an annular diaphragm outer ring arranged radially outside and coaxially with the diaphragm inner ring and separated from the diaphragm inner ring by an annular flow path interposed between them; stationary blades arranged peripherally at intervals in the annular flow path and rigidly secured to the diaphragm inner ring and the diaphragm outer ring; and moving blades rigidly secured to the outer periphery of a rotatable rotor and arranged peripherally at intervals respectively at axially downstream sides of the stationary blades. Through holes are formed in the diaphragm outer ring so as to allow axial upstream side and axially downstream side of the stationary blades to communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kentaro Tani, Sakae Kawasaki, Akihiro Onoda, Daisuke Nomura, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20120003079
    Abstract: An apparatus for restricting fluid flow in a turbo-machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a first inter-stage sealing member configured to be located between a first rotating airfoil stage and a second rotating airfoil stage attached to a rotor shaft, the first inter-stage sealing member including a segmented structure that includes a plurality of segments forming a circumferential surface, the first inter-stage sealing member including: a first base portion including a securing mechanism configured to at least substantially radially and tangentially secure the inter-stage sealing member to an inter-stage support structure; a first axial retention mechanism; and a first axially extending sealing portion configured to be outwardly radially loaded against at least one of the first rotating airfoil stage and the second rotating airfoil stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS RAYMOND FARRELL, GARY CHARLES LIOTTA, IAN DAVID WILSON
  • Patent number: 8083479
    Abstract: A heat dissipating fan structure of a dual motor includes: a base device, having a fan base, and the fan base having a fan motor; a fan, connected and rotated by the fan motor, and the fan having a plurality of vanes; a support frame device, installed at the fan base, and having a frame-fan motor; a frame-fan device, connected and rotated by the frame-fan motor, and having a frame-fan frame, and a plurality wing plates disposed around the frame-fan frame, and the wing plates being disposed around the external periphery of the fan and perpendicular to the vane, so that the plurality wing plates on the frame-fan base can produce an auxiliary airflow to increase the airflow of the fan and give a better heat dissipating effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Enermax Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chun-Ju Lin
  • Patent number: 8079806
    Abstract: A turbine seal member for use in a gas turbine engine includes a turbine seal substrate having a gas-path side and a ceramic layer disposed on the gas-path side that includes a plurality of mechanical indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Christopher W. Strock
  • Publication number: 20110299978
    Abstract: A turbine section having a plurality flow path components forming a plurality of guide vane rings and ring segments arranged in axial succession to define a boundary of a hot gas duct. A vane carrier located around the gas duct, and sealing elements extend radially between circumferentially extending grooves in the vane carrier and respective grooves in the flow path components. The sealing elements include radially inner and outer edges, and at least one axially facing side defining a chamfered portion extending to one of the edges to accommodate axial movement of the sealing element about the one edge within a respective groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Gennadiy Afanasiev, John N. Strain, Robert W. Sunshine, Robert D. Barker
  • Patent number: 8057164
    Abstract: A continuous-flow machine (1), in particular a turbine or a compressor, includes at least one stator blade section (2) which has a plurality of stator blades (3) which project into a gas path (10) of a working gas, and at least one adjacent section (6), which has a plurality of adjacent elements (7), which bound the working gas path (10) at the side. A gap (11), through which a cooling gas can be introduced into the working gas path (10), is formed between the stator blades (3) of the stator blade section (2) and the adjacent elements (7) of the adjacent section (6). In order to improve the efficiency of the continuous-flow machine (1), lateral seals (14) are formed in the gap (11) and prevent or at least impede pressure equalization and/or a gas flow in the gap (11) in the lateral direction (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Volker Eppler, Tanguy Arzel, Martin Schnieder
  • Patent number: 8021103
    Abstract: A pressure activated flow path seal for a steam turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment a gap closure component is located about a rotary component and the stationary component of the steam turbine. A pressure differential activates the gap closure component to seal or reduce the radial clearance of a steam leakage path between the rotary component and the stationary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Fred Thomas Willett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8021120
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine blade with a cover plate shaped onto the pan of the blade. The aim of the invention is to provide a turbine blade of this type that, while having a high level of efficiency, is designed for a particularly reliable and safe operation in a turbine, particularly of a steam turbine. To this end, the invention provides that a protective layer made on an alternative material is applied to the surface of the cover plate facing away from the pan of the blade. The friction behavior with regard to a turbine component, particularly a sealing strip, which is opposite the protective layer, can be specifically influenced whereby enabling favorable emergency running properties to be provided in the event of rubbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albert Schrey, Gerhard Schwass, Armin de Lazzer
  • Patent number: 7871244
    Abstract: A turbine engine ring seal for sealing gaps between turbine engine outer seal segments and turbine blade tips. The turbine engine ring segment may have an inner radial surface that defines a portion of a gap gas flow path where the inner radial surface may be formed of an abradable ceramic coating and includes a plurality of gas flow protrusions that are oriented transverse to the gap gas flow path. The gas flow protrusions may induce vortices in the gas flow in the gap gas flow path. Additionally, the gas flow protrusions may be series of peaks and depressions between two adjacent peaks, where the depressions have an approximate semicircular shape. The distance between two adjacent peaks may be equal or greater than a width of the depression and the height of a single peak may be six percent or greater than the distance between two adjacent peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Bonnie D. Marini, Douglas A. Keller
  • Publication number: 20100322799
    Abstract: A turbomolecular pump (10) includes a rotor (12) connected to a drive shaft (10). The rotor (12) has multiple rotor vanes (16). The rotor (12) is surrounded by stator rings (26) with one stator ring (26) is provided for each rotor vane (16). In order to enable radial expansion of the rotor vanes during operation, the stator rings (26) have annular grooves (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Oerlikon Leybold Vacum GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Englaender
  • Patent number: 7819625
    Abstract: A pattern of depressions (36) in a sealing surface (34) on a CMC wall (32) of gas turbine ring segment (30) allows minimum clearance against turbine blades tips, and thus maximizes working gas sealing. An array of depressions (36) on the surface (34) increases abradability of the surface (34) by blade tip contact during zero clearance conditions and reduces blade tip damage. The depressions (36) are unconnected, preventing bypass of the working gas around the blade tips. A desired abradable surface geometry may be formed in a stacked laminate wall construction (40-43, 52) by staggered laminate edge profiles (50, 52) or by machining of depressions (36, 54) after construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Merrill, Steven J. Vance
  • Patent number: 7748954
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a space in which the dimension between a shroud-facing wall and a shroud, from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the shroud, is substantially uniform, wherein the shroud-facing wall includes a recess extending in the circumferential direction, the recess being disposed at the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral end of the shroud-facing wall forming the space having the uniform dimension so that the recess forms a space larger than the other part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Eguchi, Atsushi Suzuki, Tetsuo Tominaga, Mitsuhiro Nakao
  • Patent number: 7686568
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a turbine bucket and an apparatus facilitate reducing tip shroud creep. The method includes providing a turbine bucket that includes a tip shroud including at least one seal rail. The method also includes coupling at least one cutter tooth to the tip shroud, wherein the at least one cutter tooth is fabricated from an abradable material that enables the at least one cutter tooth to be removed from the tip shroud during operation of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Moors, David Scott Williams
  • Publication number: 20100040458
    Abstract: An axial fan assembly including a casing wall with a forward facing step formed therein. Formed on the surface of the step is a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedges which are formed and positioned so as to reduce the swirl flow within the clearance gap between the fan rotor and casing. The wedges are formed so the swirling backflow first encounters a circumferentially tapered face and then an abrupt axially oriented face, thereby substantially removing the swirl component. The wedges have a favorable effect on the flow stability of the fan, thereby extending its operating range. Variations include a fan rotor with a rotating shroud with an outwardly extending portion overlapping the step, and a bellmouth piece at the casing inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter R. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 7632063
    Abstract: A fan has a plurality of blades extending in a radial direction with respect to a rotation axis and a ring portion disposed on radial outside edges of the blades. Further, the fan has a first connecting wall and a second connecting wall. The first connecting wall extending from the ring portion to a portion of the radial outside edge of each blade, the portion protruding from the ring portion toward an upstream position with respect to an air flow direction. The second connecting wall has a generally triangular shape. The second connecting wall continuously extends from the first connecting wall and connects to the ring portion on a leading side of the first connecting wall with respect to a rotation direction of the blade. The fan is for example housed in a shroud, thereby to construct a blower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Takahiro Iwasaki, Shinichi Oda
  • Patent number: 7628581
    Abstract: A rotating machine (10), in particular a compressor or turbine, has a rotor shaft (11) which is rotatable about an axis (20) and is provided with at least one slot (14). The mechanical stresses in the region of the slot are reduced in that the at least one slot (14) has a slot bottom (17) with an elliptic cross-sectional contour (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrea De Simone, Jonas Fältström, Holger Kiewel, Thomas Kramer, Markus Roland Wiebe
  • Patent number: 7628587
    Abstract: A gas turbine blade shroud includes a platform and one or more fins extending toward a stator and side rails that extend radially toward the stator and along the edge of the platform. The increased wall thickness in the side regions of the blade shroud effects an increase in stiffness and a decrease in deformation during turbine operation. Due to a localised increase in wall thickness the mass of the blade shroud can be minimized such that mechanical loading is not significantly increased. The side rails can improve a lining up of adjacent blades and decrease a probability of hot gas leakage into the cavity between blade shroud and stator. The side rails have profile shapes that can be optimised in view of stiffness and mechanical loading and are suitable for casting. The blade shroud with side rails can have an improved life time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Anguisola McFeat, Ingolf Schulz, Dirk Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20090285676
    Abstract: A continuous-flow machine (1), in particular a turbine or a compressor, includes at least one stator blade section (2) which has a plurality of stator blades (3) which project into a gas path (10) of a working gas, and at least one adjacent section (6), which has a plurality of adjacent elements (7), which bound the working gas path (10) at the side. A gap (11), through which a cooling gas can be introduced into the working gas path (10), is formed between the stator blades (3) of the stator blade section (2) and the adjacent elements (7) of the adjacent section (6). In order to improve the efficiency of the continuous-flow machine (1), lateral seals (14) are formed in the gap (11) and prevent or at least impede pressure equalization and/or a gas flow in the gap (11) in the lateral direction (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Volker Eppler, Tanguy Arzel, Martin Schnieder
  • Publication number: 20090208326
    Abstract: The rim seal is positioned in an annular space between blades and a non-rotating adjacent structure in a gas turbine engine. The rim seal is connectable to the non-rotating structure and is made of an abradable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Rene Paquet, Guy Lefebvre