Including Additional Means Causing Or Controlling Fluid Flow For Heat Exchanging, Lubricating Or Sealing Patents (Class 415/175)
  • Publication number: 20120308368
    Abstract: A biasing means is provided for securing a plurality of sealing components which are arranged to seal gaps between adjacent structural components in a turbine, the biasing means having three foot regions joined in a substantially linear fashion by two resilient curved arms, wherein each arm has securing means for securing the biasing means to one of said structural components such that when the biasing means is secured to said one of said structural components, each of said foot regions contacts one of said sealing components and the curved arms urge the sealing components towards one of said structural components so that the sealing components collectively create a seal over the gap between said structural components. An apparatus for sealing gaps between adjacent structural components which includes the biasing means is also provided as is a method of sealing gaps in a turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Caner H. HELVACI
  • Patent number: 8322985
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator in which the temperature in a rotor head can be managed is provided. The wind turbine generator 1 includes, in a nacelle 3, a driving and generating mechanism that is connected to a rotor head 4 equipped with wind turbine blades 5, and devices are disposed inside the rotor head 4, wherein a rotary joint 30 is interposed on a driving shaft that joins the rotor head 4 and the nacelle 3, and fluid for regulating the temperature in the rotor head is supplied from the interior of the nacelle 3 into the rotor head 4 through the rotary joint 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawai, Takatoshi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8313282
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact and integrated fan, pump, and heat exchanger system where air-cooling is performed via the fan, liquid cooling is performed via a pump, and heat exchange fins in thermal contact with a fluid channel act as a heat exchanger. Heated fluid is carried inside the fluid channel, where heat therein is conducted to the fins. The air flows around the outside surfaces of the fins so that the heat transfers from the heated fluid into the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousef Jarrah, Gregory M Chrysler, Patrick Harper, Shen Zhao, Glen Meadows, Christopher Best, Hirofumi Shoji, Thang Ngugen
  • Patent number: 8308426
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, an annular fluid collection cavity, and a bearing. The shaft is rotatable around an axially extending shaft centerline. The annular fluid collection cavity is formed by an axial panel extending between a forward radial panel and an aft radial panel. The aft radial panel includes a plurality of fluid apertures, each fluid aperture having a center disposed at a first radius from the shaft centerline. The bearing includes an inner race having a shaft mounting surface and a plurality of axially extending race fluid passages. The shaft mounting surface is engaged with an exterior surface of the shaft, and is disposed at a second radius from the shaft centerline, wherein the second radius is less than the first radius. At least some of the axially extending race fluid passages are fluidly connected with at least some of the fluid apertures in the aft radial panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Cigal, Mark A. Metzger
  • Publication number: 20120257962
    Abstract: A positive displacement pump having a variable flow volume comprises a housing having an outer ring inserted in an internal space of the housing, the outer ring supporting a rotor set comprising a rotor, rotor elements and a cam ring. The rotor is surrounded by the cam ring. Working chambers are formed between the rotor and the cam ring, the volumes of the chambers being adjustable by varying the eccentricity between the rotor and the cam ring. Pressure chambers are formed between an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring and the outer ring. A control piston is connected to the pressure chambers by way of associated control bores which extend at least approximately axially in the cover plate radially inside a peripheral flange of the housing and extend through a face plate which is disposed on the inside axially in front of the rotor set into the pressure chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Fuad KOLDZIC, Thomas Wekenmann
  • Publication number: 20120243978
    Abstract: A steam turbine 10 of an embodiment has seal rings 60 between an inlet sleeve 40 for introducing steam and an inner casing 20 and an outer casing 21 into which the inlet sleeve 40 is inserted. The seal rings 60 have high-temperature side seal rings 70 which are disposed their inner circumferences contacted to the outer circumference of the inlet sleeve 40, and low-temperature side seal rings 80 which are formed to have inner and outer diameters larger than those of the high-temperature side seal rings 70 and disposed with their outer circumferences contacted to the inner casing 20 or the outer casing 21. A thermal barrier layer 90 is disposed between the inner circumferences of the high-temperature side seal rings 70 and the outer circumference of the inlet sleeve 40 and between the high-temperature side seal rings 70 and the low-temperature side seal rings 80.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Asako INOMATA, Katsuya YAMASHITA, Kunihiko WADA, Kazuhiro SAITO, Yusuke SUZUKI, Takao INUKAI, Shogo IWAI, Takeo SUGA
  • Patent number: 8262343
    Abstract: This wet compression invention with a vaporizable fluid mist demonstrates major performance improvements over the relevant art in achieving a high degree of saturation, providing sensible cooling, strongly reducing the temperature increase due to compression work, reducing excess diluent air flow for downstream combustion, reducing compression noise, and increasing the achievable compressor pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Vast Power Portfolio, LLC
    Inventor: David L. Hagen
  • Patent number: 8257026
    Abstract: A braking mechanism is provided that is suitable for an expansion turbine that rotates at high speed. Upper end salient poles 26a and 26b are formed in two opposite places on the outer peripheral upper end of a rotating shaft 12, and lower end salient poles 28a and 28b are formed in two opposite places on the outer peripheral lower end of the rotating shaft 12 such that they are staggered in the vertical direction with respect to the upper end salient poles 26a and 26b. A casing 22 is provided in a location facing an outer periphery of the rotating shaft 12, and an excitation coil 30 is provided on the casing 22 for forming a magnetic path between the upper end salient poles 26a and 26b and the lower end salient poles 28a and 28b. By rotation of the rotating shaft 12, and by the magnetic path formed by the excitation coil 30, eddy currents are generated in the casing 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Takahashi, Seiichiro Yoshinaga, Hirohisa Wakisaka
  • Patent number: 8257024
    Abstract: An exemplary geared turbomachine fluid delivery system includes a first fluid path configured to communicate fluid from a supply to a gear system of a geared turbomachine, and a second fluid path configured to communicate fluid from the supply to the gear system. The fluid introduced to the gear system by the first fluid path is cooler than that the fluid introduced to the gear system by the second fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen R. Phillips, Thomas G. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Federico Papa
  • Patent number: 8246297
    Abstract: An cooling arrangement for a turbine shroud provides an air stream directed from a passage extending through a radial wall to impinge on a surface in an area of a back side of the turbine shroud, the surface defining a plane which improves the attack angle of the air stream to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Kapila Jain, Marc Tardif
  • Patent number: 8240974
    Abstract: A cold air buffer supply tube for a gas turbine engine includes a tube body having a first tube end and a second tube end. A fitting is secured to the first tube end, and a metering cap is secured to the tube second end. The metering cap includes a cap body having a peripheral wall with a plurality of holes to direct flow from an air supply into a bearing compartment for the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kinyua N. Nyamu, Ken Yacono
  • Publication number: 20120201661
    Abstract: Systems for shielding a shaft from contaminants are disclosed. In one embodiment, a contaminant shield system for a shaft includes: a fluid seal disposed circumferentially about the shaft, the fluid seal substantially fluidly isolating an inner portion of the shaft from atmospheric air; an oil deflector ring disposed circumferentially about the inner portion of the shaft, the oil deflector ring having an inner surface facing a portion of the shaft exposed to a lubricating oil and an outer surface facing the fluid seal; and a fluid conduit interposed between the fluid seal and the outer surface of the oil deflector ring, the fluid conduit for receiving a fluid and releasing the fluid between the fluid seal and the outer surface of the oil deflector ring creating a positive pressure differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Rohit Pruthi, Stephen Roger Swan
  • Patent number: 8226351
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lubrication system for turbocharger(s) [TC] to ensure continuous lubrication of bearings and shaft of the turbocharger with lubricant retention during start and shut down of turbocharger-associated systems thereby enhancing the performance and turbocharger life. The shaft (6) and bearings, are lubricated by introducing pressurized lubricating oil through an oil inlet passage (12) in the bearing housing (4) and after lubricating, the lubricant returns to the engine oil sump located below the turbocharger through the oil outlet passage (13). A non return valve (15) or one way valve in the oil inlet pipe (16) line permits lubricant flow to the bearings during engine running, and when the engine stops and oil pressure falls below the NRV (15) opening pressure, the NRV (15) shuts and traps the lubricant in oil inlet pipe that is above the NRV (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
    Inventors: Kishor Raut Shashank, Sharad Shete Manoj
  • Publication number: 20120183391
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include self-lubricating oil feed systems that may include an integral bearing. The oil feed systems may include gear pumps suitable to minimize the axial profile of the oil feed systems. Additionally, the oil feed systems may be directly coupled to turbomachinery having a gear, and provide for mechanical support and lubrication of certain components of the turbomachinery. In certain embodiments, the oil feed systems enables the transfer of a lubrication fluid to the bearing during operations of the turbomachinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Stanley Czechowski, Michael Anthony Nuchereno
  • Publication number: 20120177476
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbocharger apparatus on an internal combustion engine, having a first oil circuit and a second oil circuit, includes steps of sensing a plurality of engine operating parameters via a plurality of sensors associated with the internal combustion engine; providing oil to the engine from the first oil circuit at a first pressure level; controlling operation of the second oil circuit for said engine via an electronic control unit, based on the sensed engine operating parameters; and applying a variable hydraulic preload to said first and second bearing assemblies via the operation of the second oil circuit, wherein oil from the second oil circuit is provided at a second pressure level which is different from the first pressure level. A system usable for carrying out such method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Gregg Jones
  • Patent number: 8215895
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for carrying out vapor-phase lubrication of a component, such as a bearing for example. The method and apparatus can be applied to a turbine engine. The method includes the step of directing a first stream of fluid containing atomized lubricant to the component at a first velocity. The system provides a first fluid injection system configured to perform the first step. The method also includes the step of directing a second stream of fluid at a second velocity less than the first velocity to the component. The second stream is for controlling a temperature of the component. The system provides a second fluid injection system configured to perform the second step. Both of the directing steps are carried out concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Henry, Daniel Kent Vetters
  • Patent number: 8210801
    Abstract: A method operates a gas turbine that includes a compressor section, a turbine section and an extraction cooling system. The method includes monitoring an operation of the gas turbine, directing a cooling air flow through the extraction cooling system from the compressor section to the turbine section in response to normal operation of the gas turbine, and directing a warming air flow through the extraction cooling system to the compressor section and the turbine section in response to shutdown of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry G. Ballard, Jr., Ian David Wilson, Stephen Christopher Chieco, Andrew Ray Kneeland, Bradley James Miller, Kenneth David Black, Raymond Goetze
  • Patent number: 8192147
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl. The cowl extends along an axis and has an exterior surface spaced from an interior surface. The interior surface forms an air inlet for directing airflow to the turbine engine. An opening is disposed on the cowl. A device for creating suction through the opening is in fluid communication with the opening. The opening removes a portion of a boundary layer flow through the cowl, thereby providing higher energy flow along the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Haas
  • Patent number: 8181443
    Abstract: A cooling system of a gas turbine engine, includes a heat exchanger having a common wall shared by a first air passage for directing a portion of a compressor air flow to be used as cooling air, and a second air passage for directing a portion of a bypass air flow, the portion of the compressor air flow being thereby cooled by the portion of the bypass air flow through the common wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Guiseppe Rago
  • Patent number: 8157512
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor having an intake portion and an outlet portion. The compressor compresses air received at the intake portion to form a compressed airflow that is passed from the outlet portion. The turbomachine also includes an intercooler operatively connected downstream from the compressor. The intercooler includes a plurality of heat pipes that are configured to extract heat from the compressed airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Jatila Ranasinghe, David Wesley Ball, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8152446
    Abstract: A turbine includes: a plurality of turbine blades arranged within a casing, the arrangement including a clearance between tips of the blades and the casing; a plurality of manifolds disposed proximate to the casing opposite the clearance, wherein each of the manifolds includes a plurality of impingement holes in the surface thereof; a source of clearance information; and a source of cooling air for supplying cooling air through a plurality of flow control devices to selected ones of the manifolds according to the clearance information. A system and a method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Kenneth Neil Whaling, Jason Allen Seale, Dean Matthew Erickson, Michael Francis Michalski
  • Patent number: 8137056
    Abstract: An impingement cooled structure includes a plurality of shroud members disposed in a circumferential direction to constitute a ring-shaped shroud surrounding a hot gas stream, and a shroud cover mounted on radial outside faces of the shroud members to form a cavity therebetween. The shroud cover has a first impingement cooling hole which communicates with the cavity and allows cooling air to be jetted to an inside thereof so as to cool an inner surface of the cavity by impingement. The shroud members each has a hole fin. The hole fin divides the cavity into a plurality of sub-cavities. Further, the hole fin has a second impingement cooling hole which allows the cooling air having flowed through the first impingement cooling hole to be jetted obliquely toward a bottom surface of the sub-cavity adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Inventors: Shu Fujimoto, Youji Ohkita, Yoshitaka Fukuyama, Takashi Yamane, Masahiro Matsushita, Toyoaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8128347
    Abstract: A bleed valve for a gas turbine engine, the valve comprises a diffuser having a plurality of holes through which a bleed fluid flows and into a fluid stream. The diffuser is characterized in that at least some of the holes are at least partially tangentially angled relative to the bleed fluid flow through the valve so that the bleed air forms a vortex to enhance mixing with the fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Jagdish S. Sokhey
  • Patent number: 8128351
    Abstract: A seal structure for a steam turbine is provided, which is capable of suppressing transfer of heat generated by a friction between a rotating portion and a fixed portion to the rotating portion and of suppressing an increase in the temperature of the rotating portion. A labyrinth seal device serves to suppress the amount of steam leaking from a clearance present between each stator blade (fixed portion) of the steam turbine and a rotor (rotating portion). The seal structure for the steam turbine is formed to ensure that permeable spacers made of a permeable metal are provided on the rotor and a seal stationary body and face respective seal fins provided in the labyrinth seal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Narita, Haruyuki Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Doi, Kei Kobayashi, Hajime Toriya
  • Publication number: 20120034074
    Abstract: A part of a casing of a turbomachine is provided. The part is of one piece of material. The part includes a cavity extending along a circumference of a rotational axis of the turbomachine, the cavity having a radially outer wall and a radially inner wall. The part also includes an inlet opening for supplying a cooling medium into the cavity and an outlet opening for discharging the cooling medium from the cavity. The radially inner wall is configured to support at least vanes or rotor seals facing rotor blades of the turbomachine, or a carrier for these vanes or seals. The proposed design provides enhanced efficiency without increasing production costs. The turbomachine may include, for example, a gas turbine, a steam turbine or a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Anders Hãggmark
  • Publication number: 20120027576
    Abstract: A shroud segment for a turbine stage of a gas turbine engine forms an endwall for the working gas annulus of the stage. The segment also provides a close clearance to the tips of a row of turbine blades which sweep across the segment. In use a leakage flow of the working gas passes through the clearance gap between the blade tips and the segment. The segment has a plurality of cooling holes and respective air feed passages for the cooling holes. The cooling holes are distributed over that part of the gas-washed surface of the segment which is swept by the blade tips. The cooling holes deliver, in use, cooling air which spreads over the gas-washed surface. The feed passages are configured such that the delivered air opposes the leakage flow of the working gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Ian TIBBOTT, Peter IRELAND, Anthony J. RAWLINSON, Lynne H. TURNER
  • Patent number: 8100632
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide an integrated cooling system for multiple compartments of a turbomachine. The cooling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may provide the following benefits to the user. Improvement on the combined cycle efficiency and an increase in the power output. This may result from reducing the exhaust dilution losses and reducing the parasitic load by requiring fewer air circulation devices. The present invention may also benefit the user by reducing the installation and start-up costs of the cooling system by requiring fewer air circulation devices and integrating the cooling systems. The present invention may circulate a cooling fluid through an integrated cooling circuit, which may be in fluid communication with each compartment of the multiple compartment of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Raub W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8092152
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling the slots of a turbomachine rotor disk, the device comprising a rotor disk having a plurality of slots and a flange that extends upstream from a radially upstream face of the disk. The device also comprises a retaining annulus having a flange that is placed around the flange of the disk, co-operating therewith to provide a space forming a cooling air diffusion cavity, said cavity opening out into the bottom of each of the slots of the disk, and a plurality of air admission orifices opening out into the diffusion cavity at the upstream end thereof, the cavity having means at its downstream end for reducing the flow rate of air penetrating into the slots of the disk that are situated radially in register with air admission orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Gerard Rene Dejaune, Valerie Annie Gros, Gael Loro, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Patent number: 8092161
    Abstract: A thermal shield for reducing thermal stress induced proximate to a first joint formed between adjacent engine casing components in a gas turbine engine. The thermal shield includes a cover structure for covering a radially inner portion of at least one of the engine casing components. The cover structure is disposed proximate to the first joint and attached to the respective engine casing component so as to limit exposure of a covered inner portion of the engine casing component to hot gases in an interior volume defined by the engine casing components. A thermally insulating layer is disposed between the cover structure and the engine casing component for effecting a reduced amount of heat transfer to the covered inner portion of the engine casing component from the hot gases in the interior volume defined by the engine casing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Weidong Cai, David M. Parker
  • Patent number: 8092151
    Abstract: A wind turbine with a tower, a nacelle, a main shaft, a hub and blades is provided. The wind turbine also includes a liquid medium distribution system for transport of liquid medium in the wind turbine. The liquid medium distribution system has a first distribution sub-system located in the tower, a second distribution sub-system located in the nacelle, a third distribution sub-system located in the hub, a tower-nacelle-interface connecting the first distribution sub-system to the second distribution sub-system, and a nacelle-hub-interface connecting the second distribution sub-system to the third distribution sub-system. Further, a method of transporting liquid medium in a wind turbine is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Becker
  • Patent number: 8087879
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling slots in a turbomachine rotor disk, comprising a rotor disk having a plurality of slots and a flange. The device also comprises blades, each having its root mounted in a respective slot, a retaining annulus having one end mounted against the upstream radial face of the disk, and a flange disposed around the flange of the disk and co-operating therewith to define a space forming a cooling air diffusion cavity that opens out into the bottom of each of the slots, together with air admission orifices opening out into the diffusion cavity at the upstream end thereof, the end of the retaining annulus that is mounted against the upstream radial face of the disk including a plurality of openings that open out radially into the bottom of each of the slots in the disk, at the upstream ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Gerard Rene Dejaune, Valerie Annie Gros, Gael Loro, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Patent number: 8083470
    Abstract: A fan includes a frame, a motor and an impeller. The motor is disposed on the frame and coupled to the impeller to drive the impeller to rotate. The impeller includes a hub, a plurality of blades and an air exhausting structure. The hub has an opening formed on a top portion of the hub. The blades are disposed around the hub. The air exhausting structure is disposed in the opening for discharging hot airs generated by the motor out of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Hao Yu, Chen-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 8066472
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a bearing assembly includes a fan shaft with a plurality of conduits, a first bearing rotatably supporting the fan shaft, and a second bearing rotatably supporting the fan shaft where the second bearing is axially spaced from the first bearing. The plurality of conduits includes at least a first conduit aligned with the first bearing and a second conduit aligned with the second bearing. A spray bar includes a plurality of supply orifices that direct lubricating fluid to the first and second bearings via at least the first and second conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, David M. Daley, Brady Walker
  • Patent number: 8057167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fan motor capable of achieving both an improvement in a self cooling function of the fan motor and a reduction in fan noise, and of preventing the occurrence of heat damage, problems, and the like caused by external radiation heat and by self-heating, fan noise, and deterioration in fan performance and in fan efficiency. The fan motor (1) includes: a shroud (2); a motor (3) secured to and supported at the shroud (2); an axial-flow fan (4) connected to a rotation shaft part of the motor (3); and a heat shield panel (5) mounted at the rear side of the motor (3) with a gap being provided therebetween, in which the heat shield panel (5) has a spatula-shaped air guiding part (52) projecting outward in a radial direction at least one location on an outer circumference portion; and the air guiding part (52) has a width gradually reducing toward an outer side and a fan-rotational-direction leading edge part (53) having an arc shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Indusries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Suzuki, Takayuki Kobayashi, Kazuyuki Kamiya, Yuuko Enya, Takahisa Hirano
  • Patent number: 8038386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an intermediate casing of a turbojet comprising, between an inner hub and an outer cylindrical shroud, a plurality of radial arms at least one of which is hollow, a radial transmission shaft for driving the auxiliary machines being mounted rotatably in said radial arm, a first end of the transmission shaft passing through the inner hub and the second end passing through the outer cylindrical shroud. The housing is notable in that the inner volume consists of a single compartment housing the transmission shaft and forming a passageway for a lubrication fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Thierry François Maurice Duchatelle, Philippe Verseux
  • Patent number: 8038398
    Abstract: An air distribution system for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is coupled to a tower and a rotor that is rotatably coupled to the nacelle with a rotor shaft. The rotor includes at least one rotor blade that is coupled to a hub. The air distribution system includes a conduit that is defined within the rotor shaft. The conduit provides flow communication between the nacelle and the rotor. An air-flow control assembly is coupled in flow communication with the conduit. The air-flow control assembly is configured to selectively channel air from the nacelle to the rotor and from the nacelle to ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Sumit Bose, Ganesh Neogi, Shalu Asarikandy, Jing Wang
  • Patent number: 8028524
    Abstract: A supercharger for an internal combustion engine having an internal reservoir adapted to receive a supply of lubricating oil. An oil slinger is mounted on the impeller shaft for rotation therewith that extends into the reservoir for collecting and slinging lubricating oil onto the supercharger bearings, shafts and the drive and impeller gears. A baffle assembly is carried by the interior of the supercharger housing for controlling the volume and flow of lubricating oil onto said gears and bearings and directing oil flow therefrom back into said reservoir to prevent excessive lubrication buildup on the gears and the deleterious effects that result therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Vortech Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Middlebrook, Michael W. Reagan, Matthew L. Shemenski
  • Patent number: 8015788
    Abstract: A heat transfer system is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an annular inlet cowling. The heat transfer system includes at least one heat pipe disposed in contact with an interior of the casing. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the heat pipe and into the inlet cowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin P. Stephenson, Thomas Ory Moniz, Kattalaicheri Srinivasan Venkataramani
  • Patent number: 8016554
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a hybrid bearing which will have the advantages of ball bearings as well as hydrodynamic oil films. The present invention is a hybrid bearing assembly for a turbocharger unit, having an inner race track with a series of grooves, and one or more roller balls located in the grooves of the inner race track. There is also an outer race track having a series of grooves for receiving the one or more roller balls, where the outer race track circumscribes the inner race track. The hybrid bearing also includes a sleeve made from an established tribological material located inside the inner race track, with a shaft located inside the sleeve. A hydrodynamic oil film is located between the sleeve and the shaft, wherein the hydrodynamic oil film allows the shaft to spin at greater speeds than the inner race track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Ward
  • Patent number: 8002521
    Abstract: A flow machine is described having a first space adapted to contain a hot fluid and delimited by a wall. The wall having a first wall surface facing the first space and a second wall surface turned away from the first space. Cooling is provided for a region of the wall by supplying a relatively cool fluid onto the second wall surface. The cooling means includes a supply chamber containing the second fluid, a cavity adjacent the second wall surface, at least one duct, which has an inlet opening at the supply chamber and an outlet opening at the cavity for conveying the cool fluid to the cavity, and a deflection surface facing the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: John David Maltson
  • Patent number: 8002515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shroud for a turbomachine including at least one support structure and at least one inner shroud disposed at a gas path of a turbomachine. The at least one inner shroud and the at least one support structure have at least one gap therebetween. The at least one gap alternates between at least one restrictive gap and at least one unrestrictive gap and is capable of creating at least one pressure loss mechanism to reduce a hot gas flow in the at least one gap. Further disclosed is a turbomachine and a method for reducing ingestion of hot gas in a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Iain Robertson Kellock, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Patent number: 8001792
    Abstract: Apparatus for channeling combustion gases to a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The engine has a compressor for providing compressed air, a combustor for combusting fuel with the compressed air to provide combustion gases, and a radial inflow turbine having an inlet configured to receive the combustion gases. The turbine is rotatable about an axis for expanding the combustion gases to produce work. The apparatus includes a subassembly of plurality of nozzle guide vanes fixed between a pair of spaced apart, ring-shaped sidewalls. A pair of spaced apart supports is configured to position the subassembly therebetween, concentric with the axis, and adjacent the turbine inlet. The apparatus further includes a plurality of bolt assemblies extending axially through the pair of supports, apertures in the sidewalls, and holes in the guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: OPRA Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Marek Dvorak, R. Jan Mowill
  • Patent number: 7997859
    Abstract: A cooling fan includes a fan housing, a base, a rotor, a stator, and a fan guard. The fan housing forms an intake and an outlet at two opposite sides thereof, respectively. The base is arranged at the outlet of the fan housing. The stator is mounted on the base. The rotor is rotatably supported by the stator. A plurality of stationary blades extends from the base to the fan housing. The fan guard attaches to the outlet of the fan housing. A cylinder is arranged at a center of the fan guard and attaches to the base of the fan housing. A plurality of guard blades extend radially and outwardly from the cylinder. Each guard blade and the nearest stationary blade define a gap therebetween along a circumference of the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Liang Li, Pei-Su Zhu, Yueh-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 7967560
    Abstract: A turbine engine utilizes an oil director to direct any leakage oil from a rear bearing compartment of the turbine engine toward a drain opening for an oil drain. The oil drain is formed in a heat shield located between the low pressure turbine and the exhaust nozzle. The oil drain directs the leakage oil to a benign area of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 7967550
    Abstract: The invention provides a wind turbine wind turbine with two vessels, each being interchangeably in thermal communication with a heating medium which transfers heat from a heat generating structure to the vessel, and with a cooling medium which transfers heat from the vessel to an ambient space. The vessels form a compression structure which form part of a refrigerating circuit which can circulate a working fluid between the compression structure, a condenser and an evaporator. At the evaporator, cooling effect is obtained based on evaporation of a working fluid, and the cooling can be utilized for cooling a heat generating component in the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: John K. Grevsen, Srikanth Narasimalu, Jesper Nyvad, Poul Torben Tietze, Anand Bahuguni, Krishnamoorthi Sivalingam
  • Publication number: 20110085894
    Abstract: A gas turbine with a stator blade is disclosed. The stator blade is fastened on a blade carrier and includes a blade airfoil which extends inwards in the radial direction from an outer platform into a hot gas passage. A cooling medium can flow through an interior of the blade airfoil, such as cooling air, which flows through an access in the blade carrier into a first plenum which is arranged above the outer platform, and from there, via an inlet which is provided in the outer platform, flows into the interior of the blade airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Roland DUECKERSHOFF, Ulrich STEIGER, Ulrich RATHMANN
  • Patent number: 7913815
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solution to automate a seal oil float trap by-pass for a hydrogen cooled generator. An automated by-pass system is coupled to an existing manual by-pass system for a float trap for a hydrogen cooled generator. The automated by-pass system includes at least one solenoid valve and a controller that controls opening and closing of the solenoid valve. The automated by-pass system can also include manual valves, orifices and limit switches. The controller activates the solenoid valve to allow the seal oil to drain. The controller can also provide a notification alarm that the hydrogen cooled generator is being purged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Annigeri, Patrick William Anglin, Marlowe Cameron Bjorklund, Leigh-Ann Darden Heuser, Reginald Wayne Kemp, David Lee Rogers
  • Patent number: 7903406
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a cylindrical housing for housing an impeller, a motor for driving the impeller and a disk-like circuit board that are arranged coaxially in an accumulated manner. When the impeller rotates, air is taken in along the axial direction of the housing and goes out through an air outlet disposed in the circumference surface of the housing. A ring-like air inlet is disposed in a wall face on one side of the housing in the axial direction. An outer rim of the circuit board that is disposed inside the wall face is substantially within the inside edge of the air inlet, and a self-heating electronic component is mounted on the circuit board at the outer edge portion. A part of air taken in from the air inlet flows at a vicinity of the electronic component so that the electronic component is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7871240
    Abstract: A damped spring assembly includes a helical spring. The helical spring is movable along an axis and has a winding direction. A damper is movable along the axis and includes a helical shape. The damper is wound in a direction opposite the winding direction. The damper applies a radial load to the spring for damping movement of the spring along the axis as the spring vibrates. The damper has a very low axial spring rate and it contributes very little to the axial load provided by the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Zawilinski, W. Clark Dean
  • Publication number: 20100329855
    Abstract: A fan shroud with modular vane members for a cooling system. A plurality of modular vane set members are positioned around the inner surface of the fan shroud ring, each of the modular vane set members having a plurality of vane members. The modularity provides flexibility and versatility for the fan shroud and corresponding efficiencies in costs and manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Tembreull, Kevin M. Taylor