Means, Disposition Or Arrangement For Causing Supersonic Working Fluid Velocity Patents (Class 415/181)
  • Patent number: 10760424
    Abstract: A compressor rotor airfoil in a gas turbine engine is presented. Opposed pressure and suction sides are joined together at chordally opposite leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction sides extend in a span direction from a root to a tip. A leading edge dihedral angle is defined at a point on the leading edge between a tangent to the airfoil and a vertical. The leading edge dihedral angle has a span-wise distribution. The distribution has at least one inflection point. A method of reducing a rub angle between a compressor rotor blade and a casing surrounding the blade is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Hien Duong, Krishna Prasad Balike, Thomas Veitch, Keegan Lobo, Raman Warikoo
  • Patent number: 10711738
    Abstract: An electric supercharger includes an electric motor, a compressor wheel rotated by the electric motor, and a compressor housing. The compressor housing includes a first passage through which air is introduced, an introducing port connecting to an EGR device, a second passage through which at least one of air and EGR gas is flowed, a bypass passage through which at least one of air and EGR gas is flowed, and a bypass valve to open and close the bypass passage. When the bypass valve is opened, air introduced from the first passage and EGR gas introduced from the introducing port are flowed through the bypass passage to the internal combustion engine. When the bypass valve is closed, air introduced from the first passage and EGR gas introduced from the introducing port are compressed in the compressor wheel and flowed through the second passage to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Makio Oshita, Toshihiro Yamamichi
  • Patent number: 10711800
    Abstract: The invention concerns a radial turbo compressor (TCO) including at least one impeller (IP) at least one casing (CS), the impeller (IP) is rotatable about an axis (X), the casing (CS) comprises an inlet (IL) upstream of the impeller (IP), the inlet (IL) comprising an inlet flange (IF) to be mounted to a process gas pipe (PGP), the casing (CS) comprises an outlet (OL) down-stream of the impeller (IP) comprising an outlet flange (OF), the casing (CS) comprises an outlet volute (VL) extending about the axis (X) downstream of the impeller (IP) and upstream of the outlet (OL), and the radial turbo compressor (TCO) comprises a drive unit (DRU) driving the impeller (IP) and being mounted to the casing (CS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Howden Turbo GmbH
    Inventors: Tomasz Kamil Boguta, Claus Smits Hansen, Joergen Lyquist
  • Patent number: 10690149
    Abstract: A turbine engine part or set of parts including at least first and second obstacles each having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a platform from which the obstacles extend; wherein the platform has, between the pressure side of the first obstacle and the suction side of the second obstacle a non-axisymmetric surface defining at least one fin with a substantially triangular cross-section, each fin being associated with a leading position and a trailing position on the surface between which the fin extends, such that the leading position is upstream of each of the leading edges; the trailing position is downstream of each of the leading edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Vincent Benoit Zielinger, William Henri Joseph Riera
  • Patent number: 10612471
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Patent number: 10598024
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a compressor case with a low pressure compressor (LPC) and a high pressure compressor (HPC). The HPC is aft of the LPC. The compressor case defines a centerline axis. The compressor section also includes a rotor disk defined between the compressor case and the centerline axis. A plurality of stages are defined radially inward relative to the compressor case. The plurality of stages include at least one tandem blade stage. The tandem blade stage includes a plurality of blade pairs. Each blade pair is circumferentially spaced apart from the other blade pairs, and is operatively connected to the rotor disk. Each blade pair includes a forward blade and an aft blade. The aft blade is configured to further condition air flow with respect to the forward blade without an intervening stator vane stage shrouded cavity therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew P. Forcier, Brian J. Schuler
  • Patent number: 10557477
    Abstract: A compressor airfoil of a turbine engine having a geared architecture includes pressure and suction sides that extend in a radial direction from a 0% span position to a 100% span position. The airfoil has a relationship between a tangential stacking offset and span position that defines a curve that is non-linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Lisa I. Brilliant, Joseph C. Straccia, Stanley J. Balamucki, Mark A. Stephens, Kate Hudon
  • Patent number: 10508549
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil with pressure and suction sides that are joined at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends a span from a support to an end in a radial direction. 0% span and 100% span positions respectively correspond to the airfoil at the support and at the end. The leading and trailing edges are spaced apart from one another an axial chord in an axial direction. A cross-section of the airfoil at a span location has a diameter tangent to the pressure and suction sides. The diameter corresponds to the largest circle fitting within the cross-section. A ratio of the diameter to the axial chord is at least 0.4 between 50% and 95% span location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wolfgang Balzer, Thomas J. Praisner, Atul Kohil, Mark F. Zelesky, Dominic J. Mongillo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10474787
    Abstract: A method for designing a centrifugal pump and a mixed flow pump having a specific speed of 150-1200 comprises a design specification determination step for a turbo pump including an impeller, a specific speed determination step for the impeller, a design variable determination step for the impeller, and a three dimensional shape deriving step for the impeller. According to the present invention, the three dimensional shape of the impeller can be simply designed by converting the design variables related to the specific speed into a function and by putting optimized design variables into a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Young Seok Choi, Kyoung Yong Lee, Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 10465702
    Abstract: A compressor airfoil of a turbine engine having a geared architecture includes pressure and suction sides extending in a radial direction from a 0% span position to a 100% span position. The airfoil has a relationship between leading edge sweep angle and span position defined by a curve in which the leading edge sweep angle is positive at 0% span and crosses to a negative leading edge sweep angle at a span position less than 80% span. A negative sweep angle is in the forward direction, and a positive sweep angle is in the rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Lisa I. Brilliant, Joseph C. Straccia, Stanley J. Balamucki, Mark A. Stephens, Kate Hudon
  • Patent number: 10443390
    Abstract: A rotary airfoil in a gas turbine engine is provided. The airfoil includes opposed pressure and suction sides joined together at chordally opposite leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction sides extend in a span direction from a root to a tip. An axial component of a center of gravity of a cross-section taken chordally toward the tip of the airfoil being upstream relative to an axial component of a center of gravity of a cross-section taken chordally toward the root of the airfoil. A method for forming such blade is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Hien Duong, Krishna Prasad Balike, Thomas Veitch, Raman Warikoo, Keegan Lobo
  • Patent number: 10408072
    Abstract: The present application provides a turbine nozzle including an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape may have a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table I. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The airfoil profile sections at Z distances may be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Allen Bielek, Niraj Kumar Mishra
  • Patent number: 10358925
    Abstract: An airfoil for a turbine engine includes pressure and suction sides that extend in a radial direction from a 0% span position at an inner flow path location to a 100% span position at an airfoil tip. The airfoil has a relationship between a stacking offset and a span position that includes at least one positive and negative slope. The positive slope leans aftward and the negative slope leans forward relative to an engine axis. The positive slope crosses an initial axial stacking offset corresponding to the 0% span position at a zero-crossing position. A first axial stacking offset X1 is provided from the zero-crossing position to a negative-most value on the curve. A second axial stacking offset X2 is provided from the zero-crossing position to a positive-most value on the curve. A ratio of the second to first axial stacking offset X2/X1 is less than 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Byron R. Monzon, Ling Liu, Linda S. Li, Darryl Whitlow, Barry M. Ford
  • Patent number: 10337524
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade row group arrangeable in a main flow path of a fluid-flow machine and including N adjacent member blade rows firmly arranged relative to one another in both the meridional direction (m) and the circumferential direction (u), with the number N of the member blade rows being greater than/equal to 2 and (i) designating the running index with values between 1 and N. Here, a front member blade row with front blades (i) having a leading edge and a trailing edge as well as a rear member blade row with rear blades (i+1) having a leading edge and a trailing edge are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Volker Guemmer
  • Patent number: 10030521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade row group arrangeable in a main flow path of a fluid-flow machine and including N adjacent member blade rows firmly arranged relative to one another in both the meridional direction (m) and the circumferential direction (u), with the number N of the member blade rows being greater than/equal to 2 and (i) designating the running index with values between 1 and N. Here, a front member blade row with front blades (i) having a leading edge VK(i) and a trailing edge HK(i) as well as a rear member blade row with rear blades (i+1) having a leading edge VK(i+1) and a trailing edge HK(i+1) are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Volker Guemmer
  • Patent number: 10006297
    Abstract: In a turbine rotor blade of a radial turbine, especially in a variable-geometry turbine with variable nozzles, an object is to restrict high-order resonance of the turbine rotor blade without increasing the size of a device with a simplified structure. A plurality of turbine rotor blades for a radial turbine is disposed on a hub surface. Each turbine rotor blade includes blade-thickness changing portions, at which at least a blade thickness of a cross-sectional shape at a middle portion of a blade height increases rapidly with respect to a blade thickness of a leading-edge side, at a predetermined position from a leading edge along a blade length which follows a gas flow from the leading edge to a trailing edge. The blade thickness increases to a blade thickness via the blade-thickness changing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toyotaka Yoshida, Takao Yokoyama, Hirotaka Higashimori
  • Patent number: 9970456
    Abstract: Flow control devices and structures designed and configured to improve the performance of a turbomachine. Exemplary flow control devices may include various flow guiding channels, ribs, diffuser passage-width reductions, and other treatments and may be located on one or both of a shroud and hub side of a machine to redirect, guide, or otherwise influence portions of a turbomachine flow field to thereby improve the performance of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Concepts NREC, LLC
    Inventor: David Japikse
  • Patent number: 9957805
    Abstract: A blade has an airfoil, and the blade is configured for use with a turbomachine. The airfoil has a throat distribution measured at a narrowest region in a pathway between adjacent blades, at which adjacent blades extend across the pathway between opposing walls to aerodynamically interact with fluid flow. The airfoil defines the throat distribution, and the throat distribution reduces aerodynamic loss and improves aerodynamic loading on the airfoil. The airfoil has a linear trailing edge profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sumeet Soni, Ross James Gustafson, Rohit Chouhan, Jason Adam Neville
  • Patent number: 9951635
    Abstract: A blade row group arrangeable in a main flow path of a fluid-flow machine and including N adjacent member blade rows firmly arranged relative to one another both in the meridional direction and in the circumferential direction is provided. Here, a front member blade row with front blades having a leading edge and a trailing edge as well as a rear member blade row with rear blades having a leading edge and a trailing edge are provided, and the blade row group has two main flow path boundaries. It is provided that the profile of the blades of the member blade rows is firmly connected at at least one of the two main flow path boundaries to a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Volker Guemmer
  • Patent number: 9951787
    Abstract: In an impeller for a fluid energy machine with a hub and a plurality of rotor blades which are mounted on the hub and around which a medium may flow through the fluid energy machine and which form a blade duct between two neighboring rotor blades with a blade duct length which extends in the axial direction of the impeller, wherein each rotor blade is connected to the hub via a first transition region with a first curvature and via a second transition region with a second curvature and with a straight conical blade duct bottom of the blade duct formed between the first transition region and the second transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: iHi CHARGING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Roberto De Santis, Daniel Just
  • Patent number: 9938984
    Abstract: A compressor apparatus includes: a rotor including: a disk mounted for rotation about a centerline axis, an outer periphery of the disk defining a flowpath surface having an non-axisymmetric surface profile; an array of airfoil-shaped axial-flow compressor blades extending radially outward from the flowpath surface, wherein the compressor blades each have a root, a tip, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; and an array of airfoil-shaped splitter blades alternating with the compressor blades, wherein the splitter blades each have a root, a tip, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; and wherein at least one of a chord dimension of the splitter blades at the roots thereof and a span dimension of the splitter blades is less than the corresponding dimension of the compressor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Louis DiPietro, Jr., Gregory John Kajfasz
  • Patent number: 9920640
    Abstract: An extruded profile for manufacturing a blade of an outlet guide vane of a turbine engine. A cross-sectional area has an axial length LAX and a thickness D/LAX relative to the axial length LAX. A cross-sectional area has an at least nearly axisymmetric leading edge region, a first transition region having a varying relative thickness D/LAX. A first constant region has a relative thickness D/LAX at least substantially constant and, relative to a leading edge of the extruded profile, begins at the closest at 10% LAX and ends at the furthest at 50% LAX. A second transition region has a varying relative thickness D/LAX and, relative to the leading edge of the extruded profile, begins at the closest at 30% LAX and ends at the furthest at 90% LAX. A second constant region has a relative thickness D/LAX at least substantially constant and an axial length X of 40% LAX at most; and an at least nearly axisymmetric trailing edge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventor: Martin Hoeger
  • Patent number: 9915270
    Abstract: A turbocharger (10) having a compressor housing (15) and a bearing housing (17). The compressor housing (15) including an elliptical shaped wall (16) extending between an air inlet (11) and a volute (13) formed by the compressor housing (15). The bearing housing (17) forms a flat bearing housing wall (14) opposing the compressor wall (16) wherein the compressor wall (16) and bearing housing wall (14) form an elliptical diffuser (12) between the air inlet (11) and the volute (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Fraser, Kurt Henderson
  • Patent number: 9885371
    Abstract: A row of aerofoil members for an axial compressor, the row comprises a circumferentially extending endwall and a plurality of aerofoils extending radially from the endwall. The endwall is profiled to include an acceleration region and a deceleration region in a location that corresponds to a position of peak fluid pressure. The acceleration region is provided upstream of the deceleration region such that fluid flow through the compressor and adjacent the endwall is accelerated and then decelerated so as to reduce the peak fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: James Vincent Taylor
  • Patent number: 9822796
    Abstract: A stator vane assembly for a compressor of a gas turbine, in particular of an aircraft engine, including a plurality of stator vanes whose airfoil sections form a stagger angle with an axis of rotation of the compressor, which stagger angle varies along a duct height of the stator vane assembly. Along the duct height from the inside to the outside, the stagger angle increases to a local maximum in a second section adjoining a first, radially innermost section, and decreases to an outer local minimum in a third section adjoining this second section and, along the duct height from the inside to the outside, the stagger angle decreases from the initial value to an inner local minimum in the first, radially innermost section and/or increases from the outer local minimum to a final value in a fourth, radially outermost section adjoining the third section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventor: Sergio Elorza Gomez
  • Patent number: 9810082
    Abstract: A gas turbine stator for aircraft engines has a blade array with a plurality of blades constituted by a series of first blades and a series of second blades with different geometries; the array is formed by a plurality of sectors, each having an inner portion, an outer portion, at least one first blade and a least one second blade, and each defined by a body made in one piece; a single first blade is alternated with a single second blade for the entire circumference of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GE AVIO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Calza
  • Patent number: 9797254
    Abstract: A blade row group arrangeable in a main flow path of a fluid-flow machine includes N adjacent member blade rows firmly arranged relative to each other in both a meridional direction (m) and a circumferential direction (u). A relative secondary passage length (v?) and a relative secondary passage width (w?) each increase at least in one part of the area between the mean meridional flow line (SLM) and at least one of the main flow path boundaries (HB) towards the main flow path boundary (HB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Volker Guemmer
  • Patent number: 9765795
    Abstract: A compressor rotor airfoil in a gas turbine engine is presented. Opposed pressure and suction sides are joined together at chordally opposite leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction sides extend in a span direction from a root to a tip. A leading edge dihedral angle is defined at a point on the leading edge between a tangent to the airfoil and a vertical. The leading edge dihedral angle has a span-wise distribution. The distribution has at least one inflection point. A method of reducing a rub angle between a compressor rotor blade and a casing surrounding the blade is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Hien Duong, Krishna Prasad Balike, Thomas Veitch, Raman Warikoo, Keegan Lobo
  • Patent number: 9739154
    Abstract: The present application relates to the compressor stator of an axial turbomachine. The stator comprises an annular row of main stator blades and auxiliary blades each of which are associated with a main blade. The auxiliary blades are located at the trailing edges of the main blades and are in the vicinity of the pressure faces of the main blades. The auxiliary blades are aligned to generate a low-pressure area at the trailing edges of the main blades. Thus, a flow bypassing a main blade by its suction face is sucked in by the low-pressure area when it approaches the trailing edge of the main blade. Stalling is thus avoided and the efficiency of the machine is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Safran Aero Boosters SA
    Inventors: Alain Derclaye, David Depaepe
  • Patent number: 9512727
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor of an axial compressor stage of a turbomachine featuring a rotor assembly with a rotary axis, forming on its circumference a blade ring with a radially outer ring surface, and several rotor blades arranged on the blade ring. It is provided that the ring surface between two adjacent rotor blades has at least in a partial area a changing radius relative to the rotary axis of the rotor assembly both in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Erik Johann, Frank Heinichen
  • Patent number: 9482097
    Abstract: An airfoil for a turbine engine includes pressure and suction sides that extend in a radial direction from a 0% span position at an inner flow path location to a 100% span position at an airfoil tip. The airfoil has a relationship between a stacking offset and a span position that is at least a third order polynomial curve that includes at least one positive and negative slope. The positive slope leans aftward and the negative slope leans forward relative to an engine axis. The positive slope crosses an initial axial stacking offset corresponding to the 0% span position at a zero-crossing position. A first axial stacking offset X1 is provided from the zero-crossing position to a negative-most value on the curve. A second axial stacking offset X2 is provided from the zero-crossing position to a positive-most value on the curve. A ratio of the second to first axial stacking offset X2/X1 is less than 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Byron R. Monzon, Ling Liu, Linda S. Li, Darryl Whitlow, Barry M. Ford
  • Patent number: 9465530
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for designing and manufacturing flank millable components. In one embodiment, devices, systems, and methods for designing a flank millable component are provided, in which a user is notified when a component geometry option is selected that will result in the component not being flank millable. In another embodiment, the user is prevented from selecting a geometry option that would result in the component not being flank millable. In yet another embodiment, devices, systems, and methods are provided for manufacturing a component with a flank milling process, in which optimized machine instructions are determined that minimize milling machine motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Concepts NREC, LLC
    Inventors: Derek J. Cooper, Alexander Plomp, David Japikse
  • Patent number: 9334878
    Abstract: A blade assembly for a turbomachine compressor includes a plurality of individual devices acting on the flow. The individual devices are provided upstream of the blade assembly and are formed at least so as to generate vortices. Each of the individual devices is arranged on an upstream face of a shroud around which a recirculating flow passes, circulating in a cavity. The recirculating flow is reinjected into the principal flow such that the individual devices act simultaneously on the principal flow and on the recirculating flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Olivier Stephane Domercq, Vincent Paul Gabriel Perrot, Agnes Pesteil
  • Patent number: 9316107
    Abstract: An axial flow turbine is described having a casing defining a flow path for a working fluid therein, a rotor co-axial to the casing, a plurality of stages, each including a stationary row of vanes circumferentially mounted on the casing a rotating row blades, circumferentially mounted on the rotor, with within a stage n vanes have an extension such that at least a part of the trailing edge of each of the n vanes reaches into the annular space defined by the trailing edges of the remaining N-n vanes and the leading edges of rotating blades of the same stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Benjamin Megerle, Ivan William McBean, Timothy Stephen Rice, Said Havakechian
  • Patent number: 9316103
    Abstract: A blading for a turbomachine, particularly for a gas turbine, wherein thickened areas and depressions formed and disposed on a lateral wall having a plurality of blades such that at least one depression is disposed on a blade pressure side and at least one thickened area is disposed on a blade suction side for each blade of the plurality of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Passrucker, Roland Wunderer
  • Patent number: 9166510
    Abstract: A rocket propelled vehicle includes a controllable voltage AC generator configured to be connected to a power generation turbine shaft and configured to convert rotational energy to electrical energy, wherein the controllable voltage AC generator is configured to output a desired voltage irrespective of a change in a rotational speed of the power generation turbine shaft, an AC electric motor pump configured to pump at least one of fuel or oxidizer to a combustion chamber of the rocket propelled vehicle, and an AC bus connecting the controllable voltage AC generator to each of the AC electric motor pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 9102397
    Abstract: An airfoil, a fan assembly and an unducted contra-rotating fan engine include fabricating at least one airfoil including a suction and a pressure side coupled together at a leading and a trailing edge and extending therebetween. The airfoil includes a plurality of chord sections having a chord length. The airfoil including a tip profile defining a reducing slope extending from the leading edge at the tip portion along at least a portion of the chord length. The tip profile is configured to reduce the high unsteady pressure near the tip portion of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Trevor Howard Wood
  • Patent number: 9074483
    Abstract: A stator vane for a compressor is described. The stator vane has an airfoil root, an airfoil tip, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner span region, a midspan region and an outer span region, wherein the stator vane has a normalized camber profile that increases in the outer span region in a spanwise direction towards the tip and is more than 1.4 in the outer span region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, David Scott Clark, Brent F. Beacher
  • Patent number: 9051839
    Abstract: A supersonic turbine moving blade in which increased circumferential speed due to increased blade length and average diameter reduces shock wave loss in its inflow area. It has at least one of the following features: pressure surface curvature is nonnegative from the leading to trailing edge end; negative pressure surface curvature is positive upstream and negative downstream; dimensionless pressure surface curvature (inter-blade pitch divided by curvature radius) is larger than 0.0 and smaller than 0.1 in the 30%-to-60% portion of the length along the pressure surface; the leading edge part is formed by continuous curvature curves and the distance between ½ point of the blade maximum thickness and leading edge end exceeds ½ of the maximum thickness; the exit angle is larger than a theoretical outflow angle; and the maximum thickness point is nearer to the trailing edge than to the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Senoo
  • Patent number: 9046111
    Abstract: An aerofoil for a compressor comprising a suction surface and a pressure surface with a thickness distribution defined therebetween, the aerofoil further comprising a first local maximum in the thickness distribution and a second local maximum in the thickness distribution, the second local maximum being downstream of the first local maximum and the second local maxima being formed by a first region of concave curvature in the suction surface between the first and second local maxima, wherein the second local maximum is disposed such that in use a boundary layer upstream of the second local maximum on the suction surface is thinned by the second local maximum, and in addition the boundary layer may be sufficiently thinned so that an interaction of an upstream flow feature with the thinned boundary layer is capable of generating a turbulent spot with a calmed region downstream of the turbulent spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Neil W. Harvey, John J. Bolger
  • Patent number: 9022730
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid conduit extending therebetween, and at least one supersonic compressor rotor disposed within the fluid conduit and including a fluid flow channel that includes a throat portion. The supersonic compressor also includes a fluid control device coupled in fluid communication with at least one fluid source and an inlet of the fluid flow channel. The fluid control device channels a first fluid to the fluid flow channel inlet. The first fluid has a first plurality of fluid properties that facilitate attainment of supersonic flow of the first fluid in the throat portion during a first operational mode. The fluid control device further channels a second fluid to the fluid flow channel inlet. The second fluid has a second plurality of fluid properties that permit maintenance of supersonic flow of the second fluid in the throat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Martin Vysohlid, Douglas Carl Hofer
  • Patent number: 9011084
    Abstract: Suppressing profile loss of a moving blade due to radial flow without an increase in the length of a shaft of a turbine is disclosed. The degree of reaction on an inner circumferential side is set to an appropriate degree, reducing profile loss due to supersonic inflow, and improving turbine efficiency. A steam turbine stator vane has a trailing edge with a curved line when the stator vane is viewed from a downstream side in the axial direction. The curved line has an inflection point located on an outer circumferential side with respect to the center of the stator vane in the height direction of the stator vane. An inner circumferential portion of the curved line is located on the inner circumferential side with respect to the inflection point. An outer circumferential portion of the curved line is located on the outer circumferential side with respect to the inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Ono, Kenichi Murata, Shigeki Senoo, Goingwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20150093232
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor and method of compressing a fluid is disclosed. The rotor includes a first and a second rotor disk, a first set and a second set of rotor vanes. The first set and second set of rotor vanes are coupled to and disposed between the first and second rotor disks. Further, the first set of rotor vanes are offset from the second set of rotor vanes. The rotor includes a first set of flow channels defined by the first set of rotor vanes disposed between the first and second rotor disks. Similarly, the rotor includes a second set of flow channels defined by the second set of rotor vanes disposed between the first and second rotor disks. Further, the rotor includes a compression ramp disposed on a rotor vane surface opposite to an adjacent rotor vane surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Kumar Venkata Gadamsetty, Chaitanya Venkata Rama Krishna Ongole, Douglas Carl Hofer, Vittorio Michelassi
  • Patent number: 8864454
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor system. The supersonic compressor system includes a casing that defines a cavity that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a first drive shaft that is positioned within the cavity. A centerline axis extends along a centerline of the first drive shaft. A supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to the first drive shaft and is positioned in flow communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The supersonic compressor rotor includes at least one supersonic compression ramp that is configured to form at least one compression wave for compressing a fluid. A centrifugal compressor assembly is positioned in flow communication between the supersonic compressor rotor and the fluid outlet. The centrifugal compressor assembly is configured to compress fluid received from the supersonic compressor rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Carl Hofer, Vittorio Michelassi
  • Patent number: 8834099
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan and a turbine section having a first turbine rotor. The first turbine rotor drives a compressor rotor. A gear reduction effects a reduction in the speed of the fan relative to an input speed from a fan drive turbine rotor. The compressor rotor has a number of compressor blades in at least one of a plurality of rows of the compressor rotor. The blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of compressor blades in at least one row and the rotational speed are such that the following formula holds true for at least one row of the compressor rotor: (the number of blades×the rotational speed)/(60 seconds/minute)?5500 Hz; and the rotational speed being in revolutions per minute. A compressor module and a method of designing a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: United Technoloiies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Bruce L. Morin
  • Patent number: 8827640
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor that includes a rotor disk that includes a substantially cylindrical endwall, a radially inner surface, and a radially outer surface. The endwall extends between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the endwall. The vanes extend outwardly from the endwall. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are spaced a circumferential distance apart such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of circumferentially-adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends generally radially between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A first supersonic compression ramp is coupled to the endwall. The first supersonic compression ramp is positioned within the flow channel to facilitate forming at least one compression wave within the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Carl Hofer, Dhananjayarao Gottapu
  • Patent number: 8770929
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor. The supersonic compressor rotor includes a substantially cylindrical disk body that includes an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a radially outer surface that extends generally axially between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The disk body defines a centerline axis. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the radially outer surface. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends generally axially between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. At least one supersonic compression ramp is positioned within the flow channel. The supersonic compression ramp is selectively positionable at a first position, at a second position, and at any position therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Carl Hofer, Dhananjayarao Gottapu
  • Patent number: 8714913
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan and a turbine having a fan drive turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine rotor drives a compressor rotor. A gear reduction effects a reduction in the speed of the fan relative to an input speed from the fan drive turbine rotor that drives the compressor rotor. The compressor rotor has a number of compressor blades in at least one of a plurality of rows of the compressor rotor. The blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of compressor blades in at least one row and the rotational speed are such that the following formula holds true for at least one row of the compressor rotor turbine: (number of blades×rotational speed)/60 s?5500 Hz, and the rotational speed is in revolutions per minute. A method of designing a gas turbine engine and a compressor module are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Bruce L. Morin
  • Patent number: 8668446
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor. The supersonic compressor rotor includes a rotor disk that includes an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a radially outer surface that extends generally axially between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The radially outer surface includes an inlet surface, an outlet surface, and a transition surface that extends between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the radially outer surface. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet surface defines an inlet plane that extends between the inlet opening and the transition surface. The outlet surface defines an outlet plane that extends between the outlet opening and the transition surface that is not parallel to the inlet plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Carl Hofer, Zachary William Nagel, David Graham Holmes
  • Patent number: 8657571
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor that includes a rotor disk that includes a body that extends between a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the body. The vanes extend outwardly from the rotor disk. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. At least one supersonic compression ramp is positioned within the flow channel. The supersonic compression ramp is configured to condition a fluid being channeled through the flow channel such that the fluid includes a first velocity at the inlet opening and a second velocity at the outlet opening. Each of the first velocity and the second velocity being supersonic with respect to said rotor disk surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Carl Hofer, Zachary William Nagel, D{acute over (h)}ananjayarao Gottapu