Axially Shifted Runner, Shaft Or Bearing Patents (Class 415/34)
  • Patent number: 9353763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal pump, a shaft sleeve and a stationary seal member for a static seal used in connection with a dynamic sealing of a centrifugal pump. The invention relates to a static seal the clearance of which may be adjusted while the pump is running. Especially the invention discusses the novel structure of such a static seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventors: Jorma Tapani Lehtonen, Heikki Manninen
  • Patent number: 8845267
    Abstract: A propeller pod drive for a vessel has at least one driveshaft for driving a propeller, at least one radial bearing arrangement for receiving radial forces, at least one axial bearing arrangement for receiving axial forces of the driveshaft. A thrust collar is supported in axial direction on at least one side in axial direction at a guide device, and a supporting structure for arranging the at least one radial bearing arrangement and the axial bearing arrangement. The guide device has at least three, axial sliding segments arranged in a segment guide and each of which has a sliding surface in contact with the thrust collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: RENK Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dierk Welz, Uwe Wenzel, Rainer Mischak
  • Patent number: 8727699
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a damping system for rotating machinery such as gas turbine engines. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for damping systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, Timothy Hoffmann, Steven Arlen Klusman
  • Patent number: 8585349
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a turbine with a housing mountable in a drill string and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening for a fluid conveyed through the drill string, and with an impeller arranged in the housing and adapted to be impinged upon by the fluid flowing into the housing, wherein the impeller is axially movably mounted and yieldably supported against the afflux direction in such a way that the supporting force of the yielding support increases as the axial movement of the impeller increases. To reduce the dependence of the turbine rotational frequency and turbine performance on the feed rate and to avoid overloading of the generator, the housing includes in the range of movement of the impeller a frontal first housing section of smaller inner diameter as seen in the afflux direction and a rear second housing section of larger inner diameter as seen in the afflux direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Weatherford Energy Services GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Winnacker
  • Patent number: 8449243
    Abstract: A device and method for axially displacing at least one turbine rotor relative to at least one corresponding turbine stator in a multistage axial turbine is disclosed. The turbine shaft is provided with a split design and has a first axially displaceable shaft half, which is connected via a turbine disc to the turbine rotor and via a torque coupling to the second shaft half. By axially displacing the turbine rotor relative to the turbine stator and by controlling this axial displacement, the operation of the turbine is held in its possible optimum of efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Fiala, Michael Kremmer
  • Publication number: 20130022448
    Abstract: A decoupling system for a rotary shaft of an aircraft turbojet, the decoupling system including: a rolling bearing including rolling elements inserted between a first ring fastened to a stationary bearing support and a second ring mounted in a mounting chamber fastened to a rotary shaft; a transmission mechanism transmitting rotary torque from the rotary shaft to the second ring; a mechanism allowing the second ring to move radially relative to the mounting chamber when a static force associated with an unbalance affecting the rotary shaft exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a plurality of leaktight flexible bags interposed between the second ring and the mounting chamber and each including a heterogeneous structure including a porous capillary solid matrix and an associated liquid relative to which the matrix is lyophobic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Edouard Joseph Jadczak, Cedric Magret, Pierrick Ollivier, Arnaud Fabrice Quenardel
  • Patent number: 8197192
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pump for pumping contaminated liquid including solid matter, comprising an impeller (1), which is rotatable in a pump chamber of said pump, the impeller (1) being movable in the axial direction in relation to a seal housing cover (3) between a first position adjacent to an impeller seat (2) and a second position spaced apart from said impeller seat (2), said pump also comprising a cavity (17) defined by the seal housing cover (3) and the impeller (1), and at least one opening gap (20) connecting said cavity and said pump chamber. Furthermore, said opening gap (20) has a first flow area when the impeller (1) is in the first position, and a second flow area bigger than said first flow area when the impeller (1) is' spaced apart from said first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Patrik Andersson
  • Patent number: 8133023
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing wind turbine damage includes a propeller having a plurality of blades projecting radially from a hub. The blades may be adjustably combined to form variable cross-sections that either increase or decrease propeller rotation speed dependent on wind speed and weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Elliott Reitz
  • Patent number: 7909566
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a rotor shaft that is moveable in an axial direction so change a blade tip clearance, where the rotor is displaced by a spring to increase the blade tip clearance and is displaced by a pressure created by the compressor and turbine during engine operation that will close the blade tip clearance. This is especially useful during engine shutdown to prevent blade tip rubbing against the stationary shrouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Brostmeyer
  • Patent number: 6310414
    Abstract: A turboexpander associated with a rotary compressor by means of a rotor shaft connecting the two. A bearing housing includes magnetic radial and thrust bearings which control the placement and dynamics of the shaft within the housing. A control passageway extends from the inlet of the compressor to the gas cavity behind the compressor rotor. This passage is controlled by a valve and in turn by the magnetic bearing controller to augment the operation of the active magnetic thrust bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Rotoflow Corporation
    Inventors: Reza R. Agahi, Behrooz Ershaghi
  • Patent number: 6224322
    Abstract: In a centrifugal pump, a barrier ring in the form of a dynamic seal member is interposed between relatively rotating, generally circular wall portions which undergo relative axial movement to vary the width of a gap between the wall portions, the seal member having an outer jacket of flexible material and an annular spring member of frustoconical configuration inserted into offset grooves in the jacket, and when the seal member is mounted under compression between the confronting surfaces will follow the relative axial movement between the wall portions to maintain liquid-tight sealing engagement with the wall portions. In a modified form of invention, the seal member includes a pair of helical spring members inserted into grooves in an outer flexible jacket and, when the seal is mounted under compression between confronting surfaces of the wall portions as described will maintain liquid-tight sealing engagement notwithstanding variations in the width of the gap between members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: A. R. Wilfley & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriela E. Calboreanu
  • Patent number: 5735666
    Abstract: A system for controlling thrust forces on a thrust bearing in a rotating structure of a gas turbine engine at designated operating points including a device for providing thrust load compensation to the thrust bearing, a control for operating the thrust load compensation device, and a sensor for detecting rotational cage speed of the thrust bearing. The sensor provides a signal to the control when the rotational cage speed of the thrust bearing drops below a specified ratio of the rotational speed for the rotating structure, the signal being indicative of an incipient skid condition for the thrust bearing. The control then causes the thrust load compensation device to provide an additional predetermined load on the thrust bearing when it receives the signal from the sensor so that a resultant load thereon is within a specified load range which extends the life of the thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5667356
    Abstract: Centrifugal pumps for handling acids or slurries incorporate a ball bearing assembly as the force-responsive governor to control opening and closing of a fluid path leading from the expeller region into a seal, the seals being composed of hard, low-friction sealing materials for handling acids and of resilient materials for handling slurries owing to the solids content in the slurries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: A. R. Wilfley & Sons, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Whittier, Douglas W. Drussel
  • Patent number: 5076755
    Abstract: This invention discloses a bearing device for a high speed rotary shaft comprising a functional bearing disposed on a shaft which is supported rotatably on a housing by a pair of bearings, and capable of supporting rotatably the shaft, a rotation sensor for detecting the revolution of the shaft and a controller for changing the functional bearing to a shaft supporting state in response to a rotation detection signal from the rotation sensor representing that the number of revolution of the shaft is above a predetermined number of revolution. When the shaft rotates at a low speed, the functional bearing is set to a free state and the shaft is supported at two points on the housing by the pair of bearings alone. When the shaft rotates at a high speed, the functional bearing is operated so that the shaft is supported at three points on the housing to prevent the occurrence of deflection of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Masaki Okada
  • Patent number: 4417849
    Abstract: A variable breadth centrifugal pump arrangement includes two intermeshing peller sections that are mounted to a common pump shaft so that one of the impeller sections is axially moveable relative to the other impeller section. The impeller sections are rotationally interconnected by a torque transmitting member in the form of a bellows element, which may comprise an axially resilient metal tube formed with a plurality of pleats or a plurality of radially spaced pleated metal tubes that are separated by elastomeric material. Another form of torque transmitting bellows element comprises a plurality of dish-shaped element connected together at their central and peripheral edge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Joseph H. Morris
  • Patent number: 4385768
    Abstract: A device for accommodating and measuring thrust loads on a rotatably mounted shaft wherein the thrust loading is in either axial direction. The rotatably mounted shaft has two shoulders facing in opposite axial directions which cooperate with a pair of thrust bearings to constrain the shaft to a limited range of axial movement. Thrust rings associated with the shoulders are positioned between the shoulders and the bearings and are biased toward the bearings by resilient members to resist the axial movement of the shaft between the bearings. Sensing systems are arranged to measure the axial displacement of the shaft and provide input to thrust monitoring and control systems. A method for preventing damage to labyrinth seals on the shaft during start up of the equipment is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Rotoflow Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Judson S. Swearingen
  • Patent number: 4032252
    Abstract: A pressure gas engine such as a compressed air turbine in which gas flow to a pressure responsive rotor is controlled by a movable valve that is operated by a bellows with means connecting each side of the bellows to the gas in the turbine for supplying substantially equal gas pressure to both the inside and the outside of the bellows, a gas control member that closes a gas inlet independently of the bellows operated valve, a bleed line leading from one side of the bellows so as to regulate the pressure on that side and a speed responsive throttle valve in the bleed line to meter the amount of flow through the bleed line thereby maintaining the desired speed, all regulated and dependent upon the setting of an adjustable throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: Hollymatic Corporation
    Inventor: Aldo F. Ceresa