Bearing, Seal, Or Liner Between Shaft Or Shaft Sleeve And Static Part Patents (Class 415/229)
  • Patent number: 8282349
    Abstract: A steam turbine rotor is provided. The rotor includes at least one bearing section coupled axially to a steampath section including at least one end, the at least one end further including a flange and a bore, the flange and the bore configured to be coupled to the at least bearing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gregory Edward Cooper
  • Patent number: 8277181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid pump, in particular a liquid pump for a cooling and/or heating circuit of a motor vehicle, having a pump housing and having a rotationally fixed shaft, which is arranged in the pump housing, for an inner rotor which has an impeller wheel. According to the invention, it is proposed that the shaft is mounted at one side and, at its end remote from the bearing point, supports a bearing cap which engages at least partially around the shaft. The invention also relates to a method for producing a fluid pump of said type, in which method the shaft is fixed with its first end in a housing, in particular in a plastic housing, of the pump, the inner rotor of the pump is pushed onto the shaft and is secured axially by means of a bearing cap which is placed onto the shaft and is supported by the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hein, Jerome Thiery, Christoph Heier, Claudius Muschelknautz
  • Publication number: 20120243986
    Abstract: A turbomachine has a shaft extending along and rotatable about an axis and having an outer surface, a first impeller wheel permanently mounted on the shaft and having a respective back face, a second impeller wheel detachably mounted on the shaft axially offset from the first impeller wheel and having a respective back faces axially confront the back face of the first impeller wheel, and respective first and second axial bearings each having a respective rotor bearing half fixed to the respective impeller wheel and a respective nonrotatable stator bearing half axially juxtaposed with the respective rotor bearing half. The rotor shaft is of increasingly smaller cross-sectional size from the first wheel to the second wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Frank WIEBE
  • Publication number: 20120243987
    Abstract: A water wheel impeller blade type electric power generating apparatus including a rotating shaft for transmitting motive power to a power generator, a rotor fixed to the rotating shaft, an impeller blade provided on the outer periphery of the rotor to receive a flow of fluid for rotating the rotor, and a fluid guide plate inclined from above to below the rotor so as to guide the fluid to the impeller blades located on a lower portion of the rotor. The impeller blade is rotatably disposed on the rotor, a fluid receiving part and a stopper part shorter than the fluid receiving part are formed, the fluid receiving part is disposed in the upstream direction of the fluid in a fluid passage, and a bearing which rotatably supports the rotating shaft is provided on the outer periphery of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Katsuyuki KUMANO
  • Publication number: 20120237345
    Abstract: A turbocharger is provided with a bearing housing having a housing body supporting a rotor shaft in a rotatable state and having a bearing hole formed therein. An oil jacket is formed in the lower half portion of the housing body. A water jacket is formed in the upper half portion of the housing body, without protruding into the lower half portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi UESUGI
  • Patent number: 8267650
    Abstract: A sequential stiffness support is provided for a bearing assembly to improve vibration characteristics of a gas turbine engine and to provide a variable structural stiffness to the support to minimize unbalance load transmissibility. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the sequential stiffness support includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and means for coupling the inner ring and the outer ring. The sequential stiffness support is configured to provide a first stiffness support at a first engine speed and a second stiffness support at speeds greater than the first engine speed. Methods of manufacturing the sequential stiffness support are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mohsiul Alam, Doug K. Spencer
  • Patent number: 8262353
    Abstract: A rotor decoupler system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed, comprising a load reduction system disposed between a bearing system and the bearing support. The load reduction system comprises a fuse and a damper such that the damper transfers at least a part of the radial load from the rotor to the bearing support when a fuse fails. In one exemplary embodiment the damper comprises a wire mesh, disposed around the outer race of the bearing. In another exemplary embodiment the damper comprises a rope damper assembly. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a load reduction system is disposed between a support structure and a frame, comprising an extensional fuse and a damper disposed between the support structure and the frame such that the damper transfers at least a part of the unbalance load to the frame when an extensional fuse fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Albert Frank Storace
  • Publication number: 20120201673
    Abstract: Provided is a mechanical seal that ensures the flow rate of a cooling fluid, which is necessary to cool a slide seal surface, and that can prevent erosion from occurring. In the mechanical seal, the ratio between the depth and the width of each groove of a partial impeller is 2.0-5.0; the ratio of the distance between the grooves of the partial impeller to the width of a weir of a casing is 0.5-3.1; the ratio of the total length of the widths of the grooves of the partial impeller to the total length of the peripheral surface of the partial impeller, in which the grooves are formed, is 0.28-0.8; or the ratio of the length of the projected portion of the tip of each groove of the partial impeller to the width of a cooling liquid discharging groove of the casing is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.65.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoike, Hideyuki Inoue, Takuji Matsuki, Masaru Nakamura, Hiroki Takeno, Yoshihiro Teshima
  • Patent number: 8235650
    Abstract: A cooling fan includes a fan housing (30) having a central tube (34) extending upwardly therefrom, a bearing (60) being received in the central tube, a stator (20) being mounted around the central tube, and a rotor (10) having a shaft (18) extending through the bearing. At least one notch (180, 184) is defined in an end of the shaft. A balance structure (62) is mounted around the shaft, and has a portion facing and surrounding an upper portion of the at least one notch of the shaft. The balance structure is made of magnetic material, which can attract the shaft downward to thereby counter the upward force generated by the rotor when it is driven to rotate. Accordingly, the noise problem incurred by the floating of the rotating rotor can be resolved by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bao-Hua Liang, Yong-Kang Zhang, Jian-Feng Yan, Ying-Min Huang
  • Publication number: 20120195754
    Abstract: The invention relates to an implementation of a fluid pump 1, particularly a water pump 1, wherein an impeller 11 comprising a plain bearing bush 12 is rotatably supported on a bearing pin 13. The impeller 11 and the plain bearing bush 12 are thereby made of an identical base material in one or more pieces. A further material is mixed into the base material of the plain bearing bush 12, improving the sliding properties of the plain bearing bush 12 on the bearing pin 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Hein, Christoph Heier
  • Publication number: 20120195753
    Abstract: A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward section of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within a bearing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Gregory E. Reinhardt, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20120175885
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides rotating impeller systems comprising a shaft with a plurality of blades attached to its inner wall. In motor applications, the shaft serves as the electrical and mechanical elements of a pump or vacuum system. In particular, the shaft rotates when energized, and the attached blades create a driving force. The rotating impeller systems of the present disclosure may be used in generator applications, where the shaft serves as the rotor and a housing serves as the stator. Generator applications include wind energy or hydroelectricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Peese, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Peer
  • Patent number: 8215899
    Abstract: A vertically mountable shaft and bearing assembly includes a thermally insulated housing which protects the shaft, bearing(s), seal(s), and bearing lubricant from overheating due to a surrounding process fluid at a temperature exceeding 65° C. The thermal insulation, which in some embodiments includes vacuum, air, or an insulating material, enables a rolling element bearing to be located near the shaft's distal end, thereby reducing shaft and bearing size requirements. Lubricant is circulated past the bearing(s) by a circulation and cooling system having a capacity typical of systems used with process fluids at much lower temperatures. Additional roller and/or journal bearings can be included. The lubricant circulation system can be actuated by the shaft or driven separately. Lubricant within the shaft housing can be pressurized, for example by pressurizing gas or by filling the lubricant above the surrounding process fluid level. The shaft can operate a process fluid pump impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Paul E Griggs
  • Publication number: 20120171033
    Abstract: A pump shaft (10; 12) and a pump member (16; 18) mountable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft have respective contact surfaces that contact when the pump member is mounted on the shaft. At least one of the contact surfaces is formed such that corrosion products of the surface are substantially incompatible with the other contact surface so that joining of the shaft and pump member at the contact surfaces by corrosion is substantially prevented. The pump shaft and pump member may be parts of a dry pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: EDWARDS LIMITED
    Inventor: Emmanuel Uzoma Okoroafor
  • Patent number: 8210804
    Abstract: A closure device for a casing having at least one access opening wherein the closure device includes a cover member movably disposed within an interior chamber of the casing so as to be slidably displaceable along or in the direction of a casing central axis between an open and a closed position, the cover member being spaced at least partially axially from the access opening in the open position so as to permit access to the interior chamber and generally extending across and substantially obstructing the at least one access opening in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: William C. Maier, Daniel J. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8197183
    Abstract: A turbocharger thrust bearing assembly, which maintains a constant relationship between the thrust faces, for example by use of gimbal or spherical segment geometry. Spherical geometry, while more difficult to manufacture than that of a flat thrust bearing, provides a more constant relationship between the thrust pads and thrust washers than is possible with a typical flat thrust bearing. As a consequence of this more constant relationship the thrust bearing operates with less oil flow, which ultimately may reduce vehicle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Ward, Allan Kelly
  • Patent number: 8197215
    Abstract: A drive train for a wind turbine, comprising a main bearing arrangement in the form of a single locating bearing arranged to support a main shaft. An outer raceway of the main bearing is coupled to a support structure, such as a base frame of a nacelle, via flange parts arranged on the outer raceway and the support structure, respectively. The flange parts define interfacing surfaces extending in a plane which is arranged non-parallel, preferably substantially perpendicular, to the rotational axis of the main shaft. Thereby a service friendly design is obtained, in which the main bearing and/or the main shaft can be repaired and/or replaced without having to remove the rotor from the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Bruun Andersen, Steffen Haslev Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8186947
    Abstract: An exemplary locating mechanism for locating a turbine bearing in a bore of a housing includes a conical pin having a pin axis where the conical pin includes a conical wall portion and a pin portion to locate a turbine bearing; a ball; and a socket disposed in a housing and extending between an opening of the housing and a bore of the housing, the socket having a socket axis where the socket includes a cylindrical surface and a conical surface. According to such a mechanism, disposition of the conical pin in the socket seats the conical pin along the socket axis and against the conical surface and disposition of the ball in the socket seats the ball along the socket axis and against the cylindrical surface. Accordingly, alignment of the ball with respect to the conical pin allows for transmission of force from the ball to the conical pin along the pin axis. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Philippe Mathieu
  • Patent number: 8182204
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having an annular duct having an inner duct wall and an outer duct wall. At least one strut extends between the inner duct wall and the outer duct wall. The strut has an aerodynamic shape. At least one vane located circumferentially adjacent the strut and axially behind a leading edge of the strut, and an aerodynamic deflector located circumferentially between each strut and each vane. The aerodynamic deflector may positioned axially upstream of a flow separation point which would otherwise be caused by the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Mohamad Sleiman, Panagiota Tsifourdaris
  • Patent number: 8182220
    Abstract: A kinetically modulated fan structure is provided. The fan structure comprises a housing, a plurality of blades and an equilibrating structure, wherein the equilibrating structure is disposed on the inner side of the housing, and formed integrally with the housing and the blades. Thereby, the fan structure is adapted to be kinetically equilibrated during the manufacturing process. As a result, the modulation of the kinetic equilibrium with respect to the fan structure is eliminated since all of the yielded fan structures are uniform in quality. The simplified production is both time efficient and cost efficient, while producing a durable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hf Li, Jack Cao
  • Patent number: 8182219
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fan including a stator and a rotor coupled to the stator. The stator has a base and a bearing disposed inside the base. The rotor has a shaft supported by the bearing. Furthermore, the shaft has a concave structure formed on a surface thereof, or the bearing has a groove structure formed on a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ah-Yee Shu, Hao-Ming Chen, Chui-Hsien Chiu, Chi-Hao Hsieh, Ching-Chuang Mai
  • Publication number: 20120121411
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal is provided that can suppress the occurrence of an unequal pressure pattern in the seal, suppress unstable vibration of a rotating shaft and ensure sealing performance. The labyrinth seal includes a seal ring 13 and a plurality of seal fins 11. Ring-like cavities 12 are defined on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 2 with the seal ring 13 and the seal fins 11. The ring-like cavities 12 suppress a leakage flow LS moving along the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 2. Void portions 14 are each provided on the outer circumferential side of the cavity 12 in the seal ring 13 so as to extend in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 2 and communicate with the cavity 12 at circumferential intervals to temporarily relieve a leakage flow from inside the cavity in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira ENDO, Kazuyuki YAMAGUCHI, Yohei MAGARA, Toyomi YOSHIDA, Michiyuki TAKAGI, Kenichi MURATA, Takeshi KUDO
  • Publication number: 20120107114
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a stationary diffuser with a bore. A thrust bearing is pressed into the diffuser bore and has a curved interior. A thrust runner having a curved exterior is correspondingly and closely received by the thrust bearing interior. The thrust runner is keyed to a shaft and transmits thrust from a rotating impeller to the diffuser via the thrust bearing. The curved surface of the thrust bearing allows for handling of both axial and radial thrust without the need for multiple thrust bearings. The increased surface area of the curved surface in the thrust bearing can also handle higher loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER M. BRUNNER, DAVID W. CHILCOAT, JASON B. IVES
  • Publication number: 20120099984
    Abstract: A mechanical seal is disclosed having a rotatable sealing face and a stationary sealing face that are in opposed relation and arranged to be urged, into contact to form a seal. One of the sealing faces is mounted on a support assembly that includes a biasing device operative to move that sealing face into contact with the other sealing face. In one form of the invention, the biasing device comprises one or more resilient members that in use are deformed to provide the biasing force. In a second form of the invention, the support assembly forms part of a fluid barrier of the seal and the biasing device is fluid impervious and forms part of the barrier. In a third form of the invention, the biasing device is exposed to fluid pressure in the chamber and the biasing force increases on increasing the fluid pressure in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Ricardo Abarca Melo, Rodrigo Guzman Castro, Osvaldo Quiroz Venegas
  • Publication number: 20120098269
    Abstract: A grease composition includes a base oil and a thickener. The base oil includes a hydrocarbon-based synthetic oil at 40 mass % or more, and a component A at 20 mass % to 70 mass %, the component A having a kinematic viscosity of 70 mm2/s or less at 40 degrees C. A kinematic viscosity of the base oil is in a range from 200 mm2/s to 2000 mm2/s at 40 degrees C. A worked penetration of the grease composition is in a range from 220 to 350.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: IDEMITSU KOSAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukitoshi Fujinami
  • Patent number: 8162597
    Abstract: A stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbomachine is disclosed. The vanes include internal pivots engaged in corresponding housings of a sectorized internal ring. Each ring sector includes axial orifices for mounting two pins for the radial retention of the ring sector on the internal pivot of a vane. Each pin includes an immobilization device cooperating by shape coupling with a complementary immobilization device of the other pin in order to rotationally immobilize these pins in the orifices in the ring sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Robert Louis LeJars, Richard Staessen
  • Patent number: 8162596
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for supporting and adapting high pressure pumping apparatus for use on or in a marine vessel subject to direct dynamic motions imparted to the marine vessel without damaging the pumping apparatus to thereby extend the useful life of the pumping apparatus. For this purpose the method and apparatus is designed to prevent the deflection of the bearings by providing an axial support and radial damping to vibrations resulting from the motions imparted to the marine vessel. In addition, the pumping shaft is protected when inoperative by preventing the pumping shaft from rotation. Specifically the method and apparatus provide the suction vessel housing the high pressure pumping apparatus to be secured to the marine vessel's deck at all times along with the provision for absorbing the vibrations and stresses due to the marine vessel's movements imparted thereto by being subjected to the direct dynamic motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: EBARA International Corp.
    Inventor: Keijun Kamio
  • Patent number: 8157502
    Abstract: Pump (1) comprising a rotary shaft (30), a bearing housing (80) that is fixed relative to the rotary shaft, at least one rolling bearing (70) the inner ring (71) of which is connected to the said rotary shaft and the outer ring (76) of which is able to slide in this housing along the axis of rotation of the rotary shaft. The bearing housing (80) comprises a shoulder (81) situated on one side of this bearing and able rigidly to prevent translational movement of the outer ring (76) along the axis of rotation, and a deformable elastic device (100) fixed to the housing on the other side of the bearing (70) so that the bearing lies between the shoulder and the elastic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Edeline, Charles Marciquet, Laurent Fabbri, Fabien Wahl
  • Patent number: 8152438
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a shaft, a bearing, a coupling supported by the bearing is disclosed. The shaft is engaged by an end trunnion inside the coupling and fixed to the coupling by a cylindrical nut. The engine is characterized in that the nut is in axial abutment in a first direction against the coupling and the trunnion is screwed onto the nut. A slotted stop ring housed in an annular groove of the nut forms an axial abutment in the direction opposing the first direction, so as to allow the removal of the trunnion from the coupling by unscrewing the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Regis Eugene Henri Servant
  • Patent number: 8147187
    Abstract: A device for controlling a pivot of a variable-pitch blade in a stator of a turbomachine compressor is disclosed. The device for controlling a pivot of a variable-pitch blade includes a control lever and a pivot with a bottom end and a top end. The top end is connected to the control lever. The device also includes a first swivel bearing placed at the bottom end of the pivot and a second swivel bearing placed at the top end of the pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Christelle Foucher
  • Patent number: 8147185
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling gas leakage in a turbine are provided. A plurality of seals may be provided in series, where each of the plurality of seals may be operable to reduce gas backflow from an inlet of a turbine component. Further, one or more channels may be provided that are operable to direct at least a portion of the gas backflow from respective points within the plurality of seals to corresponding points within a gas flow path of the turbine. The at least a portion of the gas backflow may be directed to the points within the gas flow path through the one or more channels. Additionally, the diameters of the plurality of seals may be optimized to at least partially balance the net thrust generated by the gas flow path of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wei-Min Ren
  • Patent number: 8141248
    Abstract: A method of making a pump (10) including a polymeric pump housing (12) and a drive shaft (14) mounted for rotation in a bearing (16), the bearing (16) having on an exterior surface at least one engagement formation (44), —the method including the step of molding the pump housing (12) around the bearing (16) such that the housing (12) co-operates with the engagement formation (44) to restrict movement of the bearing (16) with respect to the housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Melling Do Brasil Componentes Automotivos Ltda.
    Inventors: Ayres Pinto de Andrade Filho, Robson Luiz Rezende, Edgard Ferraz, Joao Luiz de Carvalho Meira
  • Patent number: 8142136
    Abstract: An oil-sealing arrangement for cooling fan includes a fan housing provided with a central hollow pipe having a hollow bearing fitted therein in a clearance fit relation, and the bearing having a front end formed into a forward tapered projection; and a blade carrier including a fitting cylinder with a rearward tapered projection. When the fitting cylinder is extended into the hollow pipe on the fan housing, the rearward tapered projection and the forward tapered projection together define a seeped oil chamber between them. When the cooling fan operates, lubricating oil seeped out of the hollow pipe along the bearing is recovered in the seeped oil chamber and flows back to the hollow pipe via the clearance between the bearing and the hollow pipe without being centrifugally thrown out of the cooling fan, allowing the cooling fan to have extended usable life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong-Guang Li
  • Publication number: 20120070278
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising first and second rotor shafts and an intershaft rolling element bearing arranged between the shafts. The first rotor shaft has a stator stage and a rotor stage; the second rotor shaft has only a rotor stage and is arranged to contra-rotate relative to the first shaft. The intershaft bearing is arranged between the first and second shafts such that the relative speeds of the shafts minimise a cage speed of the intershaft bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. MAGUIRE
  • Patent number: 8136999
    Abstract: A support for a bearing that guides a shaft in a turbomachine is disclosed. The support includes an annular part made of a shape memory material which retains an initial shape when the load applied to it remains below a threshold value and which deforms, absorbing energy when the applied load becomes at least equal to the threshold value. The annular part is capable of reverting at least approximately to its initial shape when the applied load drops back below the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Marcel Mons, Laurent Raberin, Jean-Marc Rongvaux, Stephane Rousselin
  • Patent number: 8133004
    Abstract: A jet engine includes a shaft rotatably supported in a bearing arrangement, a compressor and a turbine arranged on the shaft, and an electromechanical unit arranged centrally about the shaft axis to provide a motor function for starting the jet engine and/or a generator function for a power supply, and a function of an active magnetic bearing arrangement. The electromechanical unit is embodied as a transverse flux machine. The electromechanical unit preferably includes a rotor carrying permanent magnets and a stator with an undulating profiled stator surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: John Sharp
  • Publication number: 20120057975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbocharger (1) in which the bearing-housing-side diffuser wall is thermally decoupled in order to reduce the heat introduction at the bearing housing cover (5). The turbocharger (1) comprises a turbine (2), a compressor (3) which has a diffuser, and a bearing housing (4) which is arranged between the turbine (2) and the compressor (3) and which has the bearing housing cover (5). Said bearing housing cover (5) is composed of a material with a low thermal conductivity of at most 5 W/mK, for example a temperature-resistant plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Lischer
  • Patent number: 8128339
    Abstract: To provide a bearing support structure and a gas turbine that prevent damage of device induced by a rotor shaft when the rotor shaft is unbalanced, the bearing support structure and the gas turbine includes: a casing (7) formed in a cylindrical shape; a bearing unit (8) formed in a cylindrical shape and housed in the casing (7); a rotation shaft (5) rotatably supported by the bearing unit (8); and a reaction-force decreasing unit (13) that connects the casing and the bearing unit, and is configured to decrease a radial reaction force on the bearing unit side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kondo, Hiroji Tada, Osamu Morii, Tadayuki Hanada, Hirokazu Hagiwara, Kunihiro Shimizu, Tomohiro Imae
  • Publication number: 20120051906
    Abstract: To solve both axial and rotational constraint problems in turbochargers with rolling element bearings (REBs), a REB cartridge is mounted to the bearing housing in a way that is not rigid, thus allowing for an oil damping film. At the same time, the REB cartridge is held both axially and rotationally, so that the outer race does not rotate relative to the bearing housing. This dual purpose is achieved using a special dual mode spring clip with at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the bearing housing and at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the REB cartridge, thereby axially locating the REB cartridge and preventing rotation of the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Timothy House, Paul Diemer, Allan Kelly, Augustine Cavagnaro
  • Publication number: 20120051905
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a bearing cartridge in combination with a pedestal. The bearing cartridge may be configured to be coupled to a pumping assembly combination and having a predetermined centerline. The pedestal may be configured with an axial channel to receive and support the bearing cartridge and allow the bearing cartridge to slide therein. The bearing cartridge and the pedestal are configured to couple together substantially at or above the centerline of the bearing cartridge in order to reduce center height requirements of the apparatus, where the center height is defined as the distance between the centerline of the bearing cartridge and the bottom surface of the pedestal supporting the bearing cartridge. The apparatus takes the form of a pump or pumping assembly, arrangement or combination, including a slurry-type pump or a centrifugal pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES, INC
    Inventors: Mark Alan DAVIS, Timothy Martin FALKIEWICZ, Mark Alexander PLAYFORD
  • Patent number: 8123462
    Abstract: A standard for supporting a bearing for a rotating shaft of a machine including a plurality of casings having different gas pressures greater than atmospheric pressure includes a sealed chamber for fluidly coupling to an end packing of a first casing and a second casing of the machine, the sealed chamber having a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the sealed chamber reduces the leakage from the casing making more pressurized gas available for producing work in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Douglas Carl Hofer
  • Publication number: 20120045326
    Abstract: To solve both axial and rotational constraint problems in turbochargers with rolling element bearings (REBs), a REB cartridge is mounted to the bearing housing in a way that is not rigid, thus allowing for an oil damping film At the same time, the REB cartridge is held both axially and rotationally, so that the outer race does not rotate relative to the bearing housing. This dual purpose is achieved using a special dual mode sliding clip with at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the bearing housing and at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the REB cartridge, thereby axially locating the REB cartridge and preventing rotation of the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Timothy House, Paul Diemer, Allan Kelly, Augustine Cavagnaro
  • Patent number: 8113781
    Abstract: A fan includes an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller to rotate. The motor includes a bushing and a rotating shaft penetrating through the bushing. The bushing includes a tube and at least one base connected with one end of the tube. An inner diameter of the tube is smaller than an inner diameter of the base so that the mechanism design variability is enhanced and the efficiency of the fan and the motor is enhanced by effectively utilizing an inner space of the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Chun Chang, Yi-Fang Chou, Li-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8113772
    Abstract: A hollow shaft of a turbomachine including a cylindrical wall with an inner surface portion and at one end a member for attachment to a rotor disk of the turbomachine is disclosed. The shaft also includes a damping device wherein at least one vibration-damping laminate is attached to the inner surface portion. The laminate includes at least one layer of viscoelastic material in contact with the surface portion and a counterlayer of rigid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Stephane Jean Joseph Baumhauer, Jerome Alain Dupeux, Francois Maurice Garcin, Jean-Pierre Francois Lombard
  • Publication number: 20120034067
    Abstract: A turbocompressor for use with a process fluid and including an axial expansion turbine for expanding the process fluid and a centrifugal compressor for compressing the process fluid. The turbine and compressor share a common shaft, all of which can be housed by a common housing that encloses sealed spaces. The axial expansion turbine has a rotor located between two main bearings, and the centrifugal compressor includes an impeller mounted to one end of the shaft. In one embodiment, the main bearings are lubricated by a portion of the process fluid so that the only fluid in the sealed spaces is the process fluid. The turbocompressor can be used in a power-cycle system that includes a heat source and, optionally, an electrical generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CONCEPTS ETI, INC.
    Inventors: Elia P. Demetri, Oleg Dubitsky, Louis Larosiliere, Robert Pelton, Karl Wygant
  • Publication number: 20120025536
    Abstract: A modular wind and solar energy converting and structurally self-supporting assembly including a plurality of conjoined tubular wind turbine modules angularly extendable in different directions and solar panels attachable to said wind turbine modules for joint and sequential energy collection and conversion into electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Serge Kimberg
  • Publication number: 20120027583
    Abstract: A vacuum pump includes a housing, a rotor located in the housing and having a shaft and pump-active elements supported on the shaft, a stator having pump-active elements and located in a separate housing part of the housing, for driving the pump, bearings for rotatably supporting the rotor shaft, and at least one vacuum chamber also located in the separate housing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Bernd HOFMANN, Tobias Stoll
  • Publication number: 20120027582
    Abstract: A packing ring assembly for use between a rotating and a stationary component in a turbomachine is disclosed, the assembly including an arcuate packing ring casing, an arcuate packing ring segment positioned at least partially within the packing ring casing, and a resistance component configured to allow movement of the packing ring segment in an axial direction, relative to the rotating component, between a first and second position in response to a pressure condition. In one embodiment, the resistance component allows movement when the pressure condition comprises approximately 30% of the turbomachine load. Also disclosed is an altered surface topography of the rotating component to accommodate variable length teeth extending from the packing ring segment, such that when the packing ring segment is in the first position, a clearance between the packing ring segment and the rotating component is larger than when the packing ring segment is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rajasekar Natarajan, Rakesh Vamsi Alamsetty, Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Manikandan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8105036
    Abstract: A device is provided for the adjustment of the pitch of a rotor blade of a wind turbine comprising a pitch actuator acting on an adjusting plane for the adjustment of the pitch and a fixing device to which the pitch actuator is attached, the fixing device comprises a first and a second bearing shaft allowing a pendulum motion of the pitch actuator wherein both the first and the second bearing shaft are arranged respectively under a certain tilt angle relatively to the adjusting plane which tilt angle is respectively substantially different from 0° or 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jesper Munch
  • Patent number: RE43363
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a stationary diffuser with a bore. A thrust bearing has a tubular portion that inserts into the bore. The thrust bearing has an external shoulder that contacts a support surface in the bore of the diffuser for transmitting downward thrust from an upstream impeller to the diffuser. The thrust bearing has an internal shoulder for transmitting upward thrust from a downstream impeller to the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan P. Semple, Robert C. de Long, Christopher Brunner, Arturo L. Poretti, Terry W. Shafer