Vanes Patents (Class 415/191)
  • Patent number: 6652220
    Abstract: A method for assembling a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine facilitates improving cooling efficiency of the turbine nozzle. The method includes providing a hollow doublet including a leading airfoil and a trailing airfoil coupled by at least one platform, wherein each airfoil includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall that extend between a respective leading and trailing edge. The method also includes inserting an insert into at least one of the airfoils, wherein the insert includes a first sidewall including a first plurality of cooling openings that extending therethrough, and a second sidewall including a second plurality of cooling openings extending therethrough, and wherein the first plurality of cooling openings facilitate more cooling of the airfoil than the second plurality of cooling openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Powis, Jonathan Philip Clarke, Judd Dodge Tressler
  • Patent number: 6652228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine blade, in which a ceramic covering, which is mechanically fastened to a metal platform, is arranged in a manner that the metal platform is protected against a hot gas in a hot gas duct of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Tiemann
  • Publication number: 20030215330
    Abstract: An axial flow gas turbine comprises a turbine and a turbine exhaust section. The turbine comprises a turbine nozzle containing a low pressure turbine stage having an annular row of stator vanes (V2) followed in axial succession by an annular row of rotor blades (B2). The low pressure turbine stage is characterized by the following parameters: the ratio of vane airfoil pitch to vane airfoil axial width (P/W) at the root end of the vane airfoil (V2) is in the region of 1.0 to 1.2, preferably about 1.12; the ratio of blade airfoil pitch to blade airfoil axial width (P/W)at the root end of the blade airfoil (B2) is in the region of 0.6; the ratio of blade diameter at the tip end of the blade airfoil to blade diameter at the root end of the blade airfoil (blade tip/hub diameter ratio) is in the region of 1.6-1.8, preferably about 1.72; and the ratio of the axial length of the exhaust section to the blade airfoil height (L/H) is no greater than a value in the region of 4:1, preferably 3:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Brian Robert Haller
  • Publication number: 20030215329
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least two vanes disposed between outer and inner bands includes the steps of separating the nozzle segment into a first singlet containing a repairable vane and a second singlet containing a non-repairable vane, and joining the first singlet to a newly manufactured singlet having a configuration that is similar to the second singlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: James W. Caddell, James M. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 6644916
    Abstract: Vanes of the type for directing a fluid radially are fabricated by forming the vanes integrally to a support structure made from a sacrificial material which is removed in assembly so that the vanes are supported for operative use. In one embodiment, the vanes are formed in the dams of an annular burner by preforming the vanes supported to a disk; the vanes and disk apparatus is fitted to side plates which are then brazed together and the disk portion and complementary side plate portions are removed, for defining the dam that is affixed to the liner of the annular combustor. Other configurations are contemplated that are tailored to fit the intended embodiment. The vane and support portion made from a sacrificial material constitute an apparatus of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Elliott Energy Systems, Inc
    Inventor: William F. Beacom
  • Patent number: 6641144
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a flexible supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner band of the nozzle segment radially inwardly of the chordal hinge seal. To minimize or prevent leakage flow across the chordal hinge seal, the flexible seal extends between the inner rail and the sealing surface of the support ring radially inwardly of the chordal hinge seal. A first margin of the flexible seal engages in a linear groove carried by the inner rail. The opposite margin extends arcuately in sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang
  • Patent number: 6637751
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner band of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a pair of sheet metal shims overlaid by a woven metallic cloth supported by a bracket secured to the inner margin of the inner rail. The radially inner end of the cloth seal bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The shims of the legs of the supplemental seal are slit along their distal margin and staggered circumferentially relative to one another to provide flexibility and effective sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir
  • Patent number: 6637753
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of each nozzle segment radially inwardly of the chordal hinge seal. To minimize or prevent leakage flow across the chordal hinge seal, the seal is formed of flexible sheet metal which extends between the inner rail and a seat projecting from the annular sealing surface of the support ring radially inwardly of the chordal hinge seal. A first margin of the flexible seal engages in an arcuate groove carried by the inner rail. The opposite margin extends arcuately in sealing engagement along the seat carried by the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Ahmad Safi, Iain Robertson Kellock, Gary Michael Itzel, Brian Peter Arness
  • Patent number: 6632070
    Abstract: The invention relates to a guide vane (17) for a turbomachine (1), in particular a gas turbine guide vane, in which the platform (48) has a separating region (50), which is embodied as a separate component. This has, in particular, advantages with respect to the simplification of cast blade/vane (17) in terms of manufacturing technology, with respect to the variability of a material selection, the quality of a protective coating to be applied and efficient cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Tiemann
  • Patent number: 6631858
    Abstract: A nozzle box includes first and second nozzle box halves which are bolted together. Each nozzle box half includes a nozzle ring segment that carries nozzles along its entire 180° arc, so that when the nozzle box halves are joined together a nozzle box is formed with no discontinuities of nozzles around its 360° circumference. The nozzles carried on each nozzle ring segment communicate with inlet ports, and associated passages which are perpendicular to the nozzle box exit plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Farineau, Michael T. Hamlin, Robert W. Hausler, Charles T. O'Clair, Mark E. Braaten, Dennis R. Ahl, James Maughan
  • Patent number: 6626641
    Abstract: A steam turbine of the type which incorporates a turbine case defining a plurality of passages having outlets opening through an inside end wall of the turbine case in a direction generally parallel to the turbine shaft, with nozzles positioned over the outlets to direct steam against the periphery of the turbine wheel, can be modified to a higher efficiency design. To perform the modification, the nozzles are removed, an arcuately shaped housing is positioned in covering relationship with the outlets, and an arcuately shaped louver is positioned so as to form an end wall of the housing. The louver has a plurality of vanes to direct the steam against the periphery of the turbine wheel to cause rotation of the turbine shaft and the housing forms a confined steam flow path from the outlets to the louver. The downstream turbine blading can be modified if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alfred Conhagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton Burns, Michael L. Macek
  • Patent number: 6619917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved system for installing a vane in a gas turbine. The system includes a receptor pocket positioned within a first support structure and a boot attached to a first or inner end of a vane for insertion into the receptor pocket. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the receptor pocket is formed by machining it into the support structure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the receptor pocket is formed by an insert which is installed into the support structure. In accordance with the present invention, the inner end of the vane having the boot is first inserted into the receptor pocket. After insertion has been completed, the vane is rotated until an outer base is brought into position against an outer support structure. The outer end of the vane is then secured to the outer support structure using studs and nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel L. Glover, Thomas E. Manning
  • Patent number: 6619916
    Abstract: A method for assembling an articulated fan front frame for a gas turbine engine facilitates improving engine performance. The method includes forming a strut including a pair of sidewalls connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, forming a flap including a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending in radial span between a root endwall and a tip endwall, wherein each endwall extends between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein at least one of the root endwall and the tip endwall is contoured in a radial direction extending between the flap leading and trailing edges, and pivotally coupling the flap downstream from the strut such that a gap is defined between the flap and the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Capozzi, Ruby Lasandra Zenon, Alan Glen Turner, Carol Vaczy Wallis, Peter Nicholas Szucs
  • Publication number: 20030170125
    Abstract: A blade for an axial-flow turbine includes an intrados producing a positive pressure between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and an extrados producing a negative pressure. The intrados is formed at its rear portion with a flat surface portion connected to the trailing edge, and the extrados has a curved surface portion formed at least at a portion corresponding to the flat surface portion. The trailing edge of the turbine blade is pointed at its end. The angle of intersection between the intrados and the extrados at the trailing edge is a right angle or an acute angle. Thus, it is possible to inhibit the flowing of a gas from the intrados at the trailing edge toward the extrados and to decrease the degree of curvature of the extrados at the trailing edge portion to reduce the flow speed, thereby minimizing a shock wave generated at the trailing edge portion to reduce the pressure loss and enhance the performance of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Markus Olhofer, Bernhard Sendhoff, Satoshi Kawarada, Toyotaka Sonoda, Toshiyuki Arima
  • Patent number: 6612809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seal for a gas turbine engine, comprising an annular ring with an L-shaped cross-section having a radially extending leg and an axially extending leg. A plurality of corrugations are formed in the axial leg so as to make it compliant in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Paul Czachor, Tod Kenneth Bosel
  • Patent number: 6609885
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a pair of sheet metal shims overlaid by a woven metallic cloth. A bracket and a portion of the supplemental seal are received in a groove along a radial inward facing surface of the inner rail. The projecting margin of the cloth seal bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The shims of the distal margin of the supplemental seal are slit and staggered in a chord-wise direction relative to one another to provide flexibility and effective sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Iain Robertson Kellock
  • Patent number: 6609886
    Abstract: A compliant woven tubular seal is provided in an arcuate cavity opening through an axial face of a plurality of shroud segments in opposition to a nozzle retaining ring. The annular composite tubular woven compliant seal includes a stainless steel inner metal core surrounded by an annular layer of silica fiber. Surrounding the silica fiber is a metal foil which prevents flow past the supplemental seal. An outer wear-resistant braiding serves as a protective covering and wear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang, Gayle Hobbs Goetze, Brian Peter Arness, John Ellington Greene, Wei-Ming Chi
  • Patent number: 6602047
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine includes a hollow airfoil vane including a first wall, a second wall, and a plurality of pins extending therebetween. The nozzle also includes at least one row of turbulators. The first and second walls are connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge. The first wall includes a plurality of slots extending towards the trailing edge, and the row of turbulators are substantially radially-aligned and extend between the plurality of slot and the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Barreto, Andrew Charles Powis, Judd Dodge Tressler
  • Patent number: 6599089
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a pair of sheet metal shims overlaid by a woven metallic cloth supported by a bracket secured to a back side surface of the inner rail. The radially inner end of the cloth seal bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The shims of the legs of the supplemental seal are slit along their distal margin and staggered in a chord-wise direction relative to one another to provide flexibility and effective sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Iain Robertson Kellock
  • Patent number: 6599092
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a nozzle for a gas turbine engine facilitates extending a useful life of the nozzles. The nozzle includes an airfoil. The method includes forming the airfoil to include a suction side and a pressure side connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, forming a plurality of slots in the pressure side of the airfoil extending towards the trailing edge, and extending a plurality of pins arranged in rows between the airfoil suction and pressure sides, such that at each of a first row of pins has a substantially elliptical cross-sectional area, wherein the first row of pins is between the remaining rows of pins and the airfoil pressure side slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Manning, Randall B. Rydbeck, Christopher Roach
  • Patent number: 6595745
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner band of the nozzle segment on a lower pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a flexible sheet metal seal having a margin secured in a groove of the inner rail of the nozzle segments with a bent-over edge to form a seal therewith. The opposite margin has an edge which bears against the axially opposed sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. Leakage flow past the chordal hinge seal exerts sealing pressure against the preloaded flexible seal to maintain the seal between the sealing surfaces of the support ring and segments. The supplemental seal extends circumferentially and spans the joint between adjacent nozzle segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang
  • Publication number: 20030129055
    Abstract: A turbine includes a row of blades each having an integral airfoil, platform, and dovetail. Each platform has opposite first and second side edges corresponding with the opposite pressure and suction sides of the airfoil. The platform first side edge is radially higher than the platform second side edge continuously between opposite forward and aft edges of the platform. In this way, adjacent platforms define a down step therebetween for preventing obstruction of combustion gases flowable downstream thereover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Leslie Eugene Leeke, Sean Robert Keith, Lawrence Paul Timko
  • Publication number: 20030123979
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner bands of the nozzle segments on a lower pressure side of the chordal hinge seals. To minimize or prevent leakage flow across the chordal hinge seals, a generally U-shaped supplemental seal having reversely folded U-shaped marginal portions is received in a cavity formed in the axially extending sealing surface of the inner rail of the nozzle segment. At operating conditions, the marginal portions seal against the base of the cavity and the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring to prevent leakage flow past the chordal hinge seal from entering the hot gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang
  • Publication number: 20030123978
    Abstract: A compliant woven tubular seal is provided in an arcuate cavity opening through an axial face of a plurality of shroud segments in opposition to a nozzle retaining ring. The annular composite tubular woven compliant seal includes a stainless steel inner metal core surrounded by an annular layer of silica fiber. Surrounding the silica fiber is a metal foil which prevents flow past the supplemental seal. An outer wear-resistant braiding serves as a protective covering and wear surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang, Gayle Hobbs Goetze, Brian Peter Arness, John Ellington Greene, Wei-Ming Chi
  • Publication number: 20030123981
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner band of the nozzle segment on a lower pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a flexible sheet metal seal having a margin secured in a groove of the inner rail of the nozzle segments with a bent-over edge to form a seal therewith. The opposite margin has an edge which bears against the axially opposed sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. Leakage flow past the chordal hinge seal exerts sealing pressure against the preloaded flexible seal to maintain the seal between the sealing surfaces of the support ring and segments. The supplemental seal extends circumferentially and spans the joint between adjacent nozzle segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang
  • Publication number: 20030123980
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a pair of sheet metal shims overlaid by a woven metallic cloth. A bracket and a portion of the supplemental seal are received in a groove along a radial inward facing surface of the inner rail. The projecting margin of the cloth seal bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The shims of the distal margin of the supplemental seal are slit and staggered in a chord-wise direction relative to one another to provide flexibility and effective sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Iain Robertson Kellock
  • Publication number: 20030123982
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a pair of sheet metal shims overlaid by a woven metallic cloth supported by a bracket secured to a back side surface of the inner rail. The radially inner end of the cloth seal bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The shims of the legs of the supplemental seal are slit along their distal margin and staggered in a chord-wise direction relative to one another to provide flexibility and effective sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Iain Robertson Kellock
  • Publication number: 20030103845
    Abstract: An inner shell of a steam turbine has discrete arcuate steam outlet ports through an axial face. In axial opposition is a nozzle ring including a pair of nozzle ring segments joined at a horizontal midline. At the midline joint, split partitions are employed to provide a full 360° discharge through the nozzle ring. The split partitions are split in an axial direction to define discrete partition portions in each of the nozzle ring segments adjacent the midline joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Hamlin, Dennis Roger Ahl, James Harvey Vogan, Tai Joung Kim, Jeffrey Louis Palmer, Thomas Joseph Farineau, Richard Jon Chevrette, George Edward Hilt
  • Patent number: 6572332
    Abstract: An aerofoil (34) for a gas turbine engine is substantially solid, including a concave pressure surface (42) and a convex suction surface (40). The pressure surface (42) is provided with a projection in the form of an elongate fin (44) which extends in the radial direction of the aerofoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Neil W Harvey, Michael J Brear, Howard P Hodson
  • Patent number: 6572330
    Abstract: A gas turbine has circumferential arrays of nozzles and shrouds and a plurality of combustors for flowing hot gases of combustion through respective sets of adjacent nozzles and shrouds. First and second nozzles of each set of nozzles are subject to different known inlet conditions of the hot gases of combustion flowing from the associated combustor and transition piece. The first nozzle in each set is preferentially located relative to the second nozzle of that set at a circumferential location relative to the associated combustor based on the known different inlet conditions. The first and second nozzles are therefore qualitatively different from one another dependent on those different inlet conditions. Similarly, the shrouds are subject to different inlet conditions and are preferentially designed and located based on those known inlet conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven Sebastian Burdgick
  • Patent number: 6572331
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of the nozzle segment. The supplemental seal is formed of a preloaded flexible sheet metal seal having a first margin secured in a linear groove extending in a tangential direction along the inner rail of the nozzle segments with a bent-over edge to form a seal therewith. The opposite second margin has an edge which bears against the axially opposed sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. Sealing pressure against the preloaded flexible seal from a high pressure region maintains the seal between the sealing surfaces of the support ring and segments. The supplemental seal extends tangentially and end edges thereof overlap one another to form a seal between adjacent nozzle segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang
  • Patent number: 6568903
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner band of the nozzle segment on a lower pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. To minimize or prevent leakage flow across the chordal hinge seal, a generally U-shaped portion seals between radially opposed surfaces of the nozzle support ring and inner band, the legs of the U-shaped portion engaging those surfaces. In a further embodiment, an arcuate sheet metal supplemental seal having a sinuous shape is disposed and seals between the radially opposed surfaces of the nozzle support ring and inner band, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Aksit, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Ahmad Safi, Srikanth Vedantam, Ning Fang
  • Patent number: 6565324
    Abstract: A turbine blade is provided with a bracket arranged in the tip region of the blade and projecting beyond the blade profile. The bracket is formed merely in a section of a surface region of the pressure side, the surface region being enclosed by an imaginary chord bearing against the pressure side of the blade body both in the region of the leading edge and in the region of the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventors: Bent Phillipsen, Boris Mamaev, Evgeny Ryabov
  • Patent number: 6561761
    Abstract: A compressor flowpath includes circumferentially spaced apart airfoils having axially spaced apart leading and trailing edges and radially spaced apart outer and inner ends. An outer wall bridges the airfoil outer ends, and an inner wall bridges the inner ends. One of the walls includes a flute adjacent the leading edges for locally increasing flow area thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John J. Decker, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 6558117
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbocharger in which a bill-like projection portion is arranged in a part of an outer periphery of a flow passage spacer, and the projection portion is protruded to a turbine rotor side at a predetermined angle or the projection portion is movably provided. Alternatively, a rod-like member is arranged in a part of an outer periphery of a flow passage spacer and the rod-like member is arranged so as to be adjacent to the turbine rotor side at a predetermined angle. Alternatively, a guide vane in which a leading edge side of a rotational shaft is eliminated is arranged in a part of an outer periphery of a flow passage spacer and the rotational shaft is arranged so as to be adjacent to the turbine rotor side at a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Fukaya, Yasunori Murakami, Tetsuo Udagawa, Tsutomu Okazaki
  • Patent number: 6558115
    Abstract: A turbine guide blade includes a platform which absorbs thermal loads and a fastening region adjoining the platform for absorbing mechanical loads. The fastening region has such a slim construction that it leaves a cold side of the platform readily accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Tiemann
  • Publication number: 20030082048
    Abstract: Methods for repairing and manufacturing a gas turbine airfoil, and the airfoil repaired and manufactured with such methods are presented with, for example, the repair method comprising providing an airfoil having specified nominal dimensions, the airfoil comprising a first material, the first material having a creep life and a fatigue life, the airfoil further comprising a leading edge section and a trailing edge section; removing at least one portion of at least one section of the airfoil to create at least one deficit of material for the airfoil relative to the specified nominal dimensions, the at least one section selected from the group consisting of the leading edge section and the trailing edge section; providing at least one insert comprising a second material, the second material having a creep life that is at least substantially equal to the creep life of the first material, and a fatigue life that is at least substantially equal to the fatigue life of the first material; and disposing the at least o
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Melvin Robert Jackson, Aaron Todd Frost, Shyh-Chin Huang, Charles Gitah Mukira, Thomas Robert Raber, Raymond Alan White, Paul Leonard Dupree, Canan Uslu Hardwicke
  • Patent number: 6554562
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce the average and maximum temperatures to which the nozzles in the hot-section of gas-turbine engine are subjected is described. The method relates to the circumferential alignment of fuel nozzles and downstream turbine nozzles in a gas turbine engine. This situates the hot-streak emerging from each fuel nozzle in between the like-numbered turbine nozzle airfoils. The most severe operating condition for reducing the durability of nozzle airfoils is the one generating hot operating temperature conditions. By identifying the temperature profile passing through downstream nozzle airfoils, airfoils in static stages can be selectively spaced around the circumference of the ring attached to the casing of the gas turbine engine to avoid high temperature exposure to the airfoils. This method and apparatus mitigates the worst oxidation and thermo-mechanical fatigue damage in the airfoils by allowing the hot gas regions to pass through the path in between two adjacent airfoils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Mark C. Morris, Douglas P. Freiberg, Craig W. McKeever, Richard J. Musiol, Ardeshir Riahi, William J. Howe
  • Patent number: 6543998
    Abstract: A nozzle ring for a gas turbine, more particularly for an aircraft engine, has at least one shroud with a circumferential surface and at least one blade with a surface. The shroud has at least one opening for fastening the blade. The blade has at least one end section with a platform which projects at least partially over its circumference and which has a transition curve and which is inserted into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: MTU Motoren-und Turbinen-Union Muenchen, GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Scharl
  • Patent number: 6543997
    Abstract: An blade row for use in a compressor is provided. The blade row has a plurality of inlet guide vanes. Each inlet guide vane has a meanline approximately equal to NACA standard A4K6 meanline, a thickness distribution approximately equal to NACA standard SR 63 thickness distribution, a stagger angle, and a lift coefficient between 0.0 and 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Anthony Donnaruma, David Allen Eldredge, Joseph Anthony Cotroneo, Steven Mark Schirle
  • Patent number: 6540479
    Abstract: An axial flow fan includes a first rotor having first blades and a second rotor having second blades. The first rotor is axially connected to the second rotor, and both of the first rotor and the second rotor are received in a first stator which has third blades extending from radially inward from an inner periphery thereof. A second stator is connected to the first stator and has fourth blades extending radially inward from an inner periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: William C. Liao, Jian J. Yeuan
  • Patent number: 6537022
    Abstract: A nozzle lock for circumferentially securing a nozzle segment relative to the engine casing of a gas turbine engine. The nozzle lock includes a thickener pad joined to an outer surface of the engine casing and a locking member disposed in a notch located in the outer band of the nozzle segment. A pin formed on the locking member is press-fit into the casing and the thickener pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher George Housley, Donald Franklin Enzweiler
  • Patent number: 6537023
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner rail of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a sheet metal seal supported by a bracket secured to the back side and radial inner surfaces of the inner rail. The sheet metal seal has a flexible margin which is preloaded and bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The bracket is bolted or welded to the inner rail with the sheet metal seal therebetween inhibiting or precluding leakage past the back side of the supplemental seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Gilbert Joseph Dean, Thomas Paul Martin
  • Patent number: 6533544
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cast turbine blading unit, in particular a gas turbine guide vane, having an airfoil and a platform region. The platform region is formed by a hot gas platform at the hot gas end and by a load-carrying platform opposite to it. The load-carrying platform accepts the forces so that the hot gas platform can be of thin configuration. There are particularly low thermal stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Tiemann, Ariel Jacala
  • Patent number: 6533543
    Abstract: A vortex prevention apparatus is combined with a pump, and prevents an air entrained vortex or a submerged vortex from being produced when water in the pump pit is pumped up by a pump. A suction member is disposed in an open water channel and has a suction port. An auxiliary flow-path forming structure is disposed substantially concentrically around the suction member with a gap defined between the auxiliary flow-path forming structure and an outer circumferential surface of the suction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Tagomori, Takashi Enomoto, Tsuyoshi Tomita, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 6533545
    Abstract: A moving turbine blade is disclosed. When an angle, which a tangent to a dorsal surface portion at a front edge of the moving turbine blade makes with a straight line perpendicular to a rotating shaft of a turbine, is designated as &thgr;, and a geometrical outlet angle of a stationary blade is designated as &agr;n, &thgr; is in the relationship &agr;N+2°<&thgr;<&agr;N+12°. As a result, the shape of the dorsal surface portion, at the front edge and in a portion adjacent thereto, of the moving turbine blade is not parallel to a stationary blade wake. Thus, the moving turbine blade can contribute to increasing the efficiency of the turbine, while suppressing an unsteady sharp increase in flow velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hirano, Atsushi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6527510
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a stator blade for an axial-flow compressor, in which the wave drag due to the generation of a shock wave in a transonic speed range can be suppressed to the minimum. For this purpose, the stator blade in the axial-flow compressor has an intrados producing a positive pressure, and an extrados producing a negative pressure. Both of the intrados and the extrados are located on one side of a chord line. A first bulge and a second bulge are formed on the intrados of the stator blade at a location on the side of a leading edge and on the side of a trailing edge, respectively. Thus, the generation of a shock wave on the extrados can be moderated to reduce the wave drag by positively producing the separation of a boundary layer on the intrados by the first bulge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Markus Olhofer, Bernhard Sendhoff, Edgar Körner, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Toyotaka Sonoda, Toshiyuki Arima
  • Publication number: 20030031556
    Abstract: A fan outlet guide vane assembly (36) for a turbofan gas turbine engine (10) comprises a fan casing (32) and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending fan outlet guide vanes (34). The fan outlet guide vanes (34) are secured at their radially outer ends to the fan casing (32). A plurality of panels (40) are secured to the fan casing (32). Each panel (40) is arranged between two adjacent fan outlet guide vanes (34) to define the flow path between the fan outlet guide vanes (34). Each panel (40) comprises a perforated skin (42) and a honeycomb structure (44) to form an acoustic treatment structure. The perforated skin (42) defines the flow path between the fan outlet guide vanes (34). The pressure equalisation across the panels (40) minimises the possibility of the panels (40) being removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas G. Mulcaire, Michael T. Holdsworth, Richard Evans
  • Patent number: 6514041
    Abstract: A thermal turbo machine is provided for the attachment of guide vanes on its stationary housing with guide vane carriers with a guide vane platform, from which braces extend towards a band that is suspended in a recess in the stationary housing. In particular, part of the axially adjoining heat shield segments form part of the guide vane platform, and the braces are arranged in a V shape. The braces and the guide vane platform furthermore include a first material, and the band of a second material, whereby the first material has a higher coefficient of expansion than the second material. The guide vane carrier according to the invention has the advantage that the radial blade clearance for the guide vanes and at the same time the radial blade clearance for the rotating blades is minimized for different operating conditions of the turbo machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Alfred Paul Matheny, Alexander Beeck
  • Publication number: 20030021680
    Abstract: The second-stage nozzles have vanes comprising airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in inches in Table I with the X, Y and Z values commencing at the radially innermost aerodynamic section of the airfoil and then made relative to that section for the Z coordinate values. The X, Y and Z values may be scaled as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled-up or scaled-down airfoil section for the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Craig Allen Bielek, Thanh Vo, Frederick James Brunner