Fixed Between Radially Separate Surfaces Patents (Class 415/210.1)
  • Patent number: 8070432
    Abstract: A static gas turbine component includes an inner and an outer annular support member and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial struts arranged between the support members for transmitting structural loads. Each of a plurality of the struts includes a load carrying core rigidly fixed to both the inner and the outer support member forming a unitary carcass with the support members, an impact resistant shell surrounding the core, and an energy absorbing material arranged between the core and the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: Anders Sjunnesson
  • Patent number: 8038389
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly and a method for assembling the turbine nozzle assembly with respect to a combustor of a gas turbine engine are provided. The method includes coupling a radial outer retaining ring to an aft end of the combustor. A plurality of turbine nozzles are provided. Each turbine nozzle includes an inner band, a radially opposing outer band, and at least one vane extending between the inner band and the outer band. The outer band of each turbine nozzle is coupled to the outer retaining ring to define the turbine nozzle assembly. An inner retaining ring is positioned about an axis of the gas turbine engine and coupled to the inner band of each turbine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian P. Arness, John E. Greene, Sze Bun B. Chan
  • Publication number: 20110211946
    Abstract: A nozzle blade and nozzle ring assembly includes a nozzle blade having radially inner and outer sidewalls with an airfoil portion extending therebetween; the inner and outer sidewalls walls formed with axially-extending first surface features along forward and aft marginal edges of the inner and outer sidewalls, respectively; and radially inner and outer nozzle rings formed with corresponding axially-extending second surface features mated with the first surface features, wherein the radially inner and outer sidewalls are welded to the radially inner and outer nozzle rings only along the mated first and second surface features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastion BURDGICK, Thomas Patrick RUSSO
  • Patent number: 7997860
    Abstract: A nozzle blade comprising radially inner and outer walls with an airfoil portion extending therebetween; the inner and outer walls formed with alignment features on respective oppositely-facing surfaces aligned with a longitudinal center axis through the nozzle blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven S. Burdgick, Thomas P. Russo
  • Patent number: 7959409
    Abstract: Methods are provided for repairing a vane assembly, where the vane assembly includes an inner annular housing, an outer annular housing, and a vane extending therebetween. In one embodiment, the method includes removing an identified section of the vane to thereby form a pocket in an inner surface of the outer annular housing, a slot through the inner annular housing, and an edge on the vane, inserting a replacement vane portion with an advanced coating through the formed slot such that a first edge of the replacement vane portion is disposed in the pocket and at least a portion of the first edge is spaced apart from at least a portion of the outer annular housing inner surface, and welding a section of the replacement vane portion to the annular inner annular housing. The repaired vane assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Guo, William F. Hehmann
  • Patent number: 7874791
    Abstract: A turbomachine (1), in particular a turbine or compressor, includes a rotor (2) which has at least one moving blade row (4) with a plurality of moving blades (5), and a stator (3) which has at least one guide vane row (6) with a plurality of guide vanes (7), at least in one of the blade or vane rows (4, 6) all the blades or vanes (5, 7) each having a shroud plate (10). In order to simplify the maintenance of the turbo-machine (1), the shroud plates (10) are separate components with respect to the respective blade or vane (5, 7) and are mounted on the respective blade or vane (5, 7), shroud plates (10) adjacent in the circumferential direction (9) being coupled to one another for the transmission of tensile forces in the circumferential direction (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Joergen Ferber, James Ritchie
  • Patent number: 7862295
    Abstract: A device for guiding a stream of air entering a combustion chamber of a turbomachine is disclosed. The device includes a flow straightener followed by a diffuser. One of the flow straightener shrouds is formed as one with one wall of revolution of the diffuser. The other flow straightener shroud is added and attached to the other wall of revolution of the diffuser. The vanes of the flow straightener are secured by one end to one shroud of the flow straightener and separated by a small clearance from the other shroud at their other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Luc Henri Claude Daguenet
  • Patent number: 7832981
    Abstract: A support system for a cooling fan for a heat exchanger. A suspension system supports an inner hub inside an outer support structure. The inner hub or ring supports the fan and motor. The suspension system includes an array of spiral support arms, extending from the inner hub to the outer supports. These arms have both spanwise and chordwise camber. The particular suspension system increases natural frequencies of the support system, over that wherein purely radial arms connect the inner hub and outer supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Atif Hasan, John R. Savage
  • Patent number: 7824152
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement (10) for a multivane segment (12) of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) composition positioned between outer and inner metallic rings (14, 16). Selected ones of the vanes (18a) of the multivane segment surround internal struts (24) joining the outer and inner rings. Spring members (26, 28) accommodate differential thermal growth between the multivane segment and the outer and inner rings, and a compliant material (30) seals against gas leakage around the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 7815417
    Abstract: A guide vane for a gas turbine aircraft engine includes an aerodynamic shell for turning a flow of working fluid and an internal spar spaced from the aerodynamic shell by an air gap and reinforced by stiffeners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nagendra Somanath, Keshava B. Kumar
  • Patent number: 7794202
    Abstract: A turbine blade is provided, comprising a stator-side end located toward a stationary stator cylinder of the turbine, a rotor-side end located toward an axial rotor of the turbine, a leading edge located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end, a trailing edge located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end and located down-stream of the leading edge with respect to a fluid flow direction, wherein the rotor-side and stator-side ends have a negative sweep angle as measured between the instantaneous tangent of the blade surface and the fluid flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Donald Borthwick, Shun Chen, Heinrich Stüer, Frank Truckenmüller
  • Patent number: 7780407
    Abstract: A rotary machine and a method of assembling a rotary machine having a casing extending at least partially around a rotor are provided. The method includes providing a diaphragm patch ring. The method also includes assembling a diaphragm assembly by configuring a diaphragm bore portion to receive the diaphragm patch ring and forming a diaphragm patch member sub-assembly by coupling the diaphragm patch ring to the configured diaphragm bore portion, such that the diaphragm bore portion defines at least one dowel passage and at least one bolt passage. The method further includes inserting at least one dowel generally radially into the at least one dowel passage, inserting at least one fastening bolt generally radially into the at least one bolt passage to secure the diaphragm patch ring to the diaphragm bore portion, and positioning the diaphragm assembly in a gap formed by the casing and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James P. Anderson, Robert J. Piechota
  • Patent number: 7762087
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame connected to at least one mount of a gas turbine engine transfers a first load from a first bearing and a second load from a second bearing to the mount. The mid-turbine frame includes a load transfer unit, a torque box rotatably positioned within the load transfer unit, and a plurality of struts. The load transfer unit has a first locking element and combines the first load and the second load into a combined load. The torque box has a second locking element that is engagable with the first locking element of the load transfer unit. The plurality of struts are connected between the torque box and the mount, and transfer the combined load from the torque box to the mount. The first locking element and the second locking element are at least one of a rib or a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nagendra Somanath, Keshava B. Kumar, William A. Sowa, Christopher Dye
  • Patent number: 7753648
    Abstract: A guide vane arrangement 20 for a gas turbine engine (10, FIG. 1) includes a vane member 21 extending between inner and outer platforms 22, 24 which are respectively mounted on inner and outer mounting members 42, 34. One of the inner and outer platforms 22, 24 includes a resilient that abuts the respective inner or outer platform 22, 24 to permit relative movement between the inner or outer platform 22, 24 and the respective inner or outer mounting member 42, 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Dale E Evans, Alison J McMillan, Stephen J Booth
  • Patent number: 7744096
    Abstract: Primary objective of the present invention is to effect a seal against a variable clearance formed between assembly components which admit flows of high temperature fluids or are subjected to vibrations. Another objective is to reduce manufacture cost thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Eagle Engineering Aerospace Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kono
  • Patent number: 7686571
    Abstract: A stator vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, the stator vane including an airfoil portion formed from a single crystal material and two platforms attached to the ends of the airfoil by shear pins that fit within slots formed between the platform and airfoil. The shear pin slots extend along the contour of the airfoil where the lowest stress levels are located. The platforms include openings having the same cross sectional shape as the curved airfoil. Because of the shear pin retainers between the airfoil and the platforms, the airfoil can be formed from a single crystal material while the platforms are un-coupled from the airfoil and can be made from a different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred P. Matheny
  • Patent number: 7654794
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for assembling steam turbines are provided. The method of assembling a steam turbine includes providing an annular outer member, providing an annular inner member, coupling a plurality of airfoils to the inner member with a plurality of generally radial fastener assemblies such that the plurality of airfoils extend substantially radially outward from the inner member, and coupling each of the plurality of airfoils to the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Boris Ivanovitch Frolov
  • Patent number: 7648336
    Abstract: A gas turbine stator includes a vane assembly, and a platform that is configured to receive the vane assembly. The vane assembly includes a vane and a cap. The vane extends radially from the cap. The vane includes a pressure side shell and a separate suction side shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Ralph Cairo
  • Patent number: 7625170
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas or steam turbine is provided. The method includes providing an insulator and positioning the insulator between a vane support and a vane such that the insulator facilitates preventing hot gas migration into the vane, and such that during operation, hot gas is channeled from a high pressure side of the vane to a low pressure side of the vane. A vane assembly for a turbine rotor assembly is also provided. The vane assembly includes a vane support and an insulator including a projecting portion. The assembly also includes a vane. The insulator is coupled to the vane support such that the projecting portion is between the vane and a nozzle support strut to facilitate hot gas flow from a pressure side of the projecting portion to a suction side of the projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Greene, Ronald Ralph Cairo, Paul Steven Dimascio, Nitin Bhate, Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 7625181
    Abstract: A turbine blade cascade structure includes a plurality of blades arranged in series in a circumferential direction on a wall surface, in which a corner portion defined by the wall surface and a front edge portion of each of blade bodies supported by the wall surface, to which a working fluid flows, includes a cover portion (fillet) that extends toward an upstream side of a flow of the working fluid. The turbine blade cascade structure is capable of reducing the secondary flow loss of the secondary flow in spite of the fluctuation of an incident angle of the working fluid flowing to the front edge portion of the blade body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hisashi Matsuda, Asako Inomata, Fumio Otomo, Hiroyuki Kawagishi, Daisuke Nomura
  • Patent number: 7614848
    Abstract: A replacement fan exit guide vane assembly for installation between an inner case and an outer case of a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil structure having an outer end and an inner end, a wedge structure connected to the outer end of the airfoil structure, a base plate positioned between the outer end of the airfoil structure and the outer case, a conformable material, and a slip collar having an opening therethrough and a recess formed along the opening. The airfoil structure extends through the opening, and the recess accepts the wedge structure to create an interference fit between the slip collar and the base plate. The conformable material is disposed along the opening and the recess in the slip collar, and also along the baseplate, in order to provide dampening relative to the airfoil structure and the wedge structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William Bogue, John J. Golias
  • Patent number: 7604456
    Abstract: A turbine vane array (10) for a combustion assembly (8) in a combustion turbine engine. The vane array (10) includes a plurality of stationary vane assemblies (12), each vane assembly (12) including at least one airfoil (24) and inner and outer shroud segments (26, 28) attached to opposing ends of the airfoil (24). The inner and outer shroud segments (26, 28) each include an inner face (34, 36) facing toward a gas path (13) extending through the vane array (10). A removable cover structure may be provided on the inner faces (34, 36) of the inner and outer shroud segments (26, 28). The cover structure may include removably attached insert elements (72, 72?) that are positioned on the inner faces (34, 36) extending between upstream edges (44) and downstream edges (46) of the shroud segments (26, 28) and extending between adjacent airfoils (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony L. Schiavo, Jr., Bonnie D. Marini
  • Patent number: 7604458
    Abstract: The guide vanes comprise two kinds of guide vanes which are alternately placed in the circumferential direction of a shroud. One kind of the guide vanes have a longer length than the other kind of the guide vanes, in the region which is close to the surface of the hub, but have substantially the same length as the other kind of the guide vanes, in the region which is close to the shroud. The leading edges of the second kind of guide vane are located further downstream in the pump axial direction than the leading edges of the first kind of guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Ishii, Ryuichiro Iwano, Akira Manabe, Yasuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7600970
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly. The ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly may include a ceramic matrix composite vane, a number of metallic components positioned about the ceramic matrix composite vane, and a number of metallic seals positioned between the ceramic matrix composite vane and one or more of the metallic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nitin Bhate, Thomas Allen Wells, Ian Francis Prentice, John Greene
  • Patent number: 7588417
    Abstract: According to the invention, the stator is made by radially assembling together at least two stator sectors (21, 22) about a rotor (18). Each stator sector (21, 22) comprises a peripheral shell sector (24, 25) provided with internal annular grooves (24a-24j) in which stator vane sectors (26a-26j) are engaged individually. This facilitates assembly and provision of subassemblies constituting the turbomolecular pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Laurent Maniglier
  • Patent number: 7578653
    Abstract: A turbine stage includes a stator nozzle having a row of vanes mounted between inner and outer bands. The inner band terminates in an ovate ledge converging aft from the vanes with radially outer and inner convex surfaces joined at a convex apex. The ovate ledge reduces aerodynamic losses at the rotary seal with a row of following turbine rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Samuel Klasing, Ching-Pang Lee, Scott David Hunter
  • Patent number: 7566200
    Abstract: A single stage high pressure turbine vane includes an airfoil having a profile substantially in accordance with at least an intermediate portion of the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 2. The X and Y values are distances, which when smoothly connected by an appropriate continuing curve, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Remo Marini, Edward Vlasic, Sami Girgis
  • Publication number: 20090169374
    Abstract: An impeller is provided for a pump unit, in particular for a waste water pump unit, having two cover plates (2, 4), which are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction (X) and are connected to one another by at least one connecting element (8). The impeller has at least one blade (12, 14) which is arranged between the two cover plates (2, 4) and extends from an inner diameter of the impeller to an outer diameter of the impeller. The blade (12, 14) has a continuous slot (16), which extends from the edge (22, 24) of the blade (12, 14) which is situated at the inner diameter to the edge (26, 28) of the blade (12, 14) which is situated at the outer diameter. A pump unit is also provided having an impeller of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: GRUNDFOS MANAGEMENT A/S
    Inventors: Lasse Ilves, Heikki Yli-Korpela
  • Patent number: 7553130
    Abstract: A compressor nozzle ring for an aircraft includes an inner shroud, an outer shroud and a multiplicity of blades extending from the inner shroud to the outer shroud. Each blade passes through the inner shroud and is attached to it with sealing cement containing an organic polymer adhesive. The adhesive is polyimide based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Claude Marcel Mons, Sandra Andrieu, Manuel Girard, Francois Pierre Georges Maurice Ribassin
  • Patent number: 7547186
    Abstract: A nonlinearly stacked low noise turbofan stator vane having a characteristic curve that is characterized by a nonlinear sweep and a nonlinear lean is provided. The stator is in an axial fan or compressor turbomachinery stage that is comprised of a collection of vanes whose highly three-dimensional shape is selected to reduce rotor-stator and rotor-strut interaction noise while maintaining the aerodynamic and mechanical performance of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Schuster, Karen B. Kontos, Donald S. Weir, Nick A. Nolcheff, John A. Gunaraj
  • Patent number: 7527473
    Abstract: The first stage nozzles have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I. The X and Y values are in inches and the Z value is in inches along the nozzle stacking axis coincident with a turbine radius. The X and Y distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the nozzle. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of±0.160 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Humanchuk, Craig Bielek, Linda Farral, Glen MacMillan
  • Patent number: 7497658
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stator assembly for a steam turbine. The stator assembly includes a stacked stator section and a retention device. The stacked stator section has a plurality of adjacently disposed stator plates. The retention device retains the adjacent stator plates proximate to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert James Bracken, John Thomas Murphy, Stephen Swan, Jeffrey Robert Simkins, Clement Gazzillo, David Orus Fitts, Mark William Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 7491030
    Abstract: A variable inlet guide vane assembly in a turbomachine in which the vanes can vary in angle to control the flow through into the turbomachine, each guide vane having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, and where the entire vane can pivot or the trailing edge portion can pivot about the leading edge portion. The leading edge and trailing edge portions each have a magnetic field generating material located within the portion of the vane or one a surface of the vane. The vanes are offset in the shroud such that the trailing edge portion of a first vane is located closer to the leading edge portion of an adjacent vane than to the trailing edge portion of the adjacent vane. An electric current is passed through at least one of the trailing edge and leading edge portions to produce a magnetic field. The magnetic field causes the trailing edge portion to move toward the leading edge portion of the adjacent vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Pinera, Gabriel L Johnson
  • Patent number: 7465155
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade row is provided having a hub that includes a non-axisymmetric end wall modified by a transformation function. The blade row further includes a circumferential row of a plurality of airfoil members radially extending from the non-axisymmetric end wall of the hub and forming a plurality of sectoral passages therebetween. A radius of the non-axisymmetric end wall is determined by a transformation function including a plurality of geometric parameters defined by a user based on flow conditions. The plurality of geometric parameters provide for modification of the end wall in both an axial and a tangential direction to include a plurality of concave profiled regions and convex profiled regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bao Q. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7434313
    Abstract: A repaired turbine engine stationary vane assembly, including at least one airfoil bonded between inner and outer bands, is provided by a method of providing first and second vane assembly members bonded at respective circumferential edges, for example by brazing or welding. The first vane assembly member includes the outer band, the airfoil, an inner flange, and a first segment of the inner band with a first edge, spaced from the flange and extending between and through inner band circumferential edge portions. The second vane assembly member includes a second segment of the inner band including a second edge of shape and size matched with the first edge and extending through the inner band circumferential edge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Dasilva, Timothy Lee Siebert, Gregory Matthew Ford
  • Patent number: 7431558
    Abstract: An air intake with at least one inlet port area and one outlet port area, in which there is arranged at least one structure which may be flowed through and around, comprises an opening and modifies the clear cross-section only slightly, in particular serving as a fresh air/recirculated air housing for a motor vehicle heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Krempel, Ralph Stroehla
  • Patent number: 7427187
    Abstract: A steam turbine nozzle singlet having a blade or airfoil between inner and outer sidewalls is provided. The sidewalls include steps or flanges which are received in complementary recesses in the rings enabling axially short low heat input welds e.g., e-beam welds. These complementary steps and recesses mechanically interlock the singlet between the rings preventing displacement of the singlet in the event of weld failure. The low heat input welds minimize or eliminate distortion of the nozzle flow path. Additional features on the singlets, provide a datum for milling machines to form singlets of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Thomas William Crall, Thomas Patrick Russo
  • Publication number: 20080213092
    Abstract: Methods are provided for repairing a vane assembly, where the vane assembly includes an inner annular housing, an outer annular housing, and a vane extending therebetween. In one embodiment, the method includes removing an identified section of the vane to thereby form a pocket in an inner surface of the outer annular housing, a slot through the inner annular housing, and an edge on the vane, inserting a replacement vane portion with an advanced coating through the formed slot such that a first edge of the replacement vane portion is disposed in the pocket and at least a portion of the first edge is spaced apart from at least a portion of the outer annular housing inner surface, and welding a section of the replacement vane portion to the annular inner annular housing. The repaired vane assembly is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Wen Guo, William F. Hehmann
  • Patent number: 7410342
    Abstract: A blade or a vane preferably used in a gas turbine engine, the blade or vane being formed of a metallic core or insert with a ceramic airfoil surface bonded to the metallic insert. The insert includes a series of concave and convex portions arranged along the outer surface, in which a plurality of hoop fibers are secured within a resin matrix to firmly secure the metallic insert to the ceramic airfoil body. Axial loads between the insert and the ceramic body are transferred to the hoop fibers. The hoop fibers are strong enough to resist extending in length that would permit the hoop fibers from sliding over the widest portion of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred P. Matheny
  • Patent number: 7374398
    Abstract: An automotive compressor is provided having a casing defining an intake section for fluid for compression, and a delivery section for delivering the compressed fluid. An impeller is movable angularly inside the casing to increase the pressure of the fluid. A distributor is carried by the intake section of the casing to conduct the fluid for compression to the impeller. The casing and the distributor are defined by separate members connected releasably to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Paolo Marchese, Fabio Pesola, Dario Caenazzo, Paolo Delzanno
  • Patent number: 7329087
    Abstract: A stator vane assembly for a gas turbine includes a ceramic matrix composite airfoil held between radially inner and outer metal platforms wherein an interface between the airfoil and at least one of the radially inner and outer platforms is shaped to create a circuitous leakage path for gas from the gas turbine hot gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Ralph Cairo, Nitin Bhate
  • Patent number: 7326030
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil support system for coupling together a turbine airfoil formed from two or more components, wherein the support system is particularly suited for use with a composite airfoil. In at least one embodiment, the turbine airfoil support system may be configured to attach shrouds to both ends of an airfoil and to maintain a compressive load on those shrouds while the airfoil is positioned in a turbine engine. Application of the compressive load to the airfoil increases the airfoil's ability to withstand tensile forces encountered during turbine engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry A. Albrecht, Yevgeniy Shteyman
  • Patent number: 7311495
    Abstract: A fluid flow machine comprises an array of vanes (2) which are supported at their ends by inner and outer support structures 4, 6. The ends of the vanes are received in slots 8, 10, with resilient material 12 disposed between the vane 2 and the wall of the slot 8, 10. A restraint element 14, 34 is mounted in a recess 26, 28; 48 of the support structure 4, 6 and is engaged by a notch 30, 32 in the vane 2 to restrict axial displacement of the vane 2. Consequently, vibration of the vane in directions perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the vane are damped by the elastomeric material 12 but bodily axial displacement of the vane 2 is prevented by the restraint elements 14, 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Duncan E Ashley, Peter Allford, Martin Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7306429
    Abstract: An axial-flow heat-dissipating fan includes an impeller and a casing. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades formed on the hub. The casing includes an air inlet, an air outlet, a base in the air outlet, and guiding ribs mounted between the casing and the base. Each guiding rib includes an airflow-encountering line adjacent to a trailing edge of one of the blades that is closest to the guiding rib. Two of the blades adjacent to each other overlap with each other as viewed from the longitudinal direction such that each blade has a first overlapped area and a second overlapped area, thereby increasing an air inlet amount and reducing blowing noise in the air inlet. An angle between the trailing edge of the blade and the airflow-encountering line of the guiding rib is 10°-70°, thereby reducing blowing noise in the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, Yin-Rong Hong
  • Patent number: 7185433
    Abstract: A method for repairing a stationary turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner structural bands includes providing an engine-run turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner bands, wherein the outer band and the vanes are previously replaced components of the segment and the inner band is an original component of the segment; separating the inner band from the nozzle segment; repairing damage in the outer band and/or the vane; and joining the outer band and the vane to a newly manufactured replacement inner band segment. The replacement inner band segment includes: a structural inner band; and an integral structural collar adapted to receive an inner end of the at least one vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew N. Miller, James W. Caddell, Jr., James M. Caldwell, Brian A. Norton
  • Patent number: 7172388
    Abstract: A spring seal for sealing a gap defined between first and second gas turbine engine components. The spring seal has a grasping portion for graspingly receiving a portion of the first component, and a spring loading portion adapted to extend between the first and second gas turbine engine components for spring loading the first and second gas turbine engine components relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Remy Synnott
  • Patent number: 7147434
    Abstract: Blades (3) extending radially from the inner shroud (1) to the outer shroud (2) are attached to the inner shroud by means of a sealing cement containing an organic polyimide-based polymer adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Claude Marcel Mons, Sandra Andrieu, Manuel Girard, Francois Pierre Georges Maurice Ribassin
  • Patent number: 7121793
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes a vane joined to opposite inner and outer bands. The inner band includes a pocket adjoining a flange which recesses in part the inner surface of the band. The pocket undercuts the flange to form a notch at the base thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Victor Hugo Silva Correia
  • Patent number: 7097420
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing a plurality of stator vane sectors that each include an equal number of stator vanes that are circumferentially-spaced such that a first circumferential spacing is defined between each pair of adjacent stator vanes within the sector, and coupling the plurality of stator vane sectors together to form a stator vane assembly such that a second circumferential spacing is defined between each pair of adjacent stator vanes coupled to adjacent sectors, wherein the second circumferential spacing is different from the first circumferential spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathan Gerard Cormier, James Edwin Rhoda, Steven Roy Manwaring
  • Patent number: 7083381
    Abstract: A stator blade for a hydrokinetic torque converter, the blade profile having geometric characteristics that improve torque flow efficiency in the converter torque flow circuit, whereby the torque converter efficiency at high speed ratios is improved without significant adverse effects on the converter torque ratio at stall and at low speed ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Shue