Including Movement Limit Stop Or Damping Means Patents (Class 416/140)
  • Patent number: 11746901
    Abstract: A device for operating a parking lock (34) of a transmission (3) includes an engagement spring (345) for engaging the parking lock (34), a hydraulic actuator (340) for disengaging the parking lock (34), an electrohydraulic control unit (35) for hydraulically actuating the actuator (340), and an electronic control unit (36) for electrically actuating the actuator (340) and the electrohydraulic control unit (35). The actuator (340) includes a hydraulic piston (341) operatively connected to the parking lock (34), is actuatable by system pressure (P_sys) of the electrohydraulic control unit (35) via a pressure line (347) upon disengagement of the parking lock (34), and is mechanically interlockable by an interlocking device (342). A choke unit (353) includes an orifice (353) and a non-return valve (354) and is installed in the pressure line (347) downstream from the hydraulic piston (341).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Tobias Rolser, Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Armin Gierling
  • Patent number: 11409249
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments simulate the eigenmodes of a flexible rotor in a model of a rotor and thus reduce the number of variables and computation expense required during simulation of the transverse motion response of the rotor. The exemplary embodiments may use data structures, such as lookup tables, to store precomputed information that may be used for the determining eigenmode properties as the values of one or more parameters affecting the eigenmode properties (e.g., speed, shaft temperature, bearing viscosity, normal force acting along the rotor shaft axis, turbine power level, turbine fluid flow rate, etc.) change during a simulation. The use of the data structures helps to reduce the computational expense during the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Udengaard, Jocelyn Kluger
  • Patent number: 11130009
    Abstract: The present invention includes a safety apparatus and method for protecting users during maintenance operations for a rotorcraft comprising: at least one permanent, semi-permanent, or detachable safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop that is attached or attachable to a rotorcraft, wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is positioned in an area or surface between a windshield of the rotorcraft and a tail boom of the rotorcraft and is connectable to a user safety device to provide fall protection from the area or surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Bob Thornton, Chyau Tzeng, Brian Mesing, Kevin Knott, Mark Wiinikka, Edith Richard, David Platz, Joshua Edler, Sarah Villanueva, Thomas Mast, Joseph Leachman, Daniel John Burns
  • Patent number: 11085303
    Abstract: A blade vibration damping system impacts a pressurized damping fluid on a surface of at least one of a plurality of blades of a turbine in opposition to a vibratory movement thereof to cause damping of vibration of the blade(s) during operation of the turbine. The system includes a fluid injection nozzle in a stationary component adjacent the plurality of blades. A valve selectively admits the pressurized damping fluid to the fluid injection nozzle from a source of pressurized damping fluid, and a control system controls the valve to operate the fluid injection nozzle in response to an operational parameter exceeding a threshold during operation of the turbine. A related turbine casing and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John McConnell Delvaux, Claire Fridtjof Lang, Suryarghya Chakrabarti
  • Patent number: 11052993
    Abstract: An exemplary spring-loaded link for an aircraft including a spring interposed between a first and a second rod, the spring, when compressed, urging the first rod and the second rod away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Christopher Edward Foskey, Andrew Maresh
  • Patent number: 11008094
    Abstract: The present invention includes a passive hub flapping lock including stop wedges; frames coupled to the stop wedges; rods coupled to the frames, and each rod comprising a bracket; lever arms, each lever arm rotatably coupled to a pivot and coupled at a first lever arm end to one of the rods at the bracket of the rod; weight sets, each weight set coupled to a second lever arm end; and pivot torsion springs, each pivot torsion spring positioned at a pivot and biased to hold the flapping lock in an engaged position when stationary or at a rotational speed below a specified rotational speed; wherein the flapping lock is in an engaged position below the specified rotational speed and in a disengaged position above the specified rotational speed and the weight sets move outward, rotating the lever arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Kyle Thomas Cravener
  • Patent number: 10994837
    Abstract: An exemplary pitch lock for a tiltrotor aircraft to enable and disable a pitching degree of freedom of a rotor blade assembly includes a first tab coupled to a blade stop assembly, the first tab having a first ramp surface, a second tab coupled to a blade cuff, the second tab having a second ramp surface, a hasp having a central opening to receive the first and the second tab and rollers rotatably coupled to the hasp on opposite sides of the central opening, where the rollers engage the first and second ramp surfaces and retain the first and the second tabs in the central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Andrew Maresh, Mark Adam Wiinikka
  • Patent number: 10960973
    Abstract: A radially divided elastomeric bearing assembly is for mounting between a helicopter pylon and transmission. The bearing assembling includes first and second bodies that, respectively, have a first and second plurality of alternating elastomeric and metallic laminae nested coaxially about a center bore and a center line. The first and second plurality of alternating elastomeric and metallic laminae extend radially and axially relative to the center line and are conical. The first and second plurality of alternating elastomeric and metallic laminae are inside a housing and separated by a central spacer and housing spacer extending from the internal surface of the housing towards the centerline and between the first and second bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. George
  • Patent number: 10935043
    Abstract: An assembly of a blade assembly bracket and a blade of a ceiling fan includes a blade assembly bracket, an adaptor, and a fan blade. The adaptor is pivoted to the blade assembly bracket, and the fan blade is pivoted to the adaptor. When the adaptor is pivoted relative to the blade assembly bracket, the adaptor can drive the rotatable holder simultaneously to switch a position of the fan blade between an initial position and a rotational position, so as to change an inclination angle of the fan blade, and make the fan blade unfold outwardly. When the operation of the ceil fan is stopped, the adaptor is operated reversely to make the fan blade fold from the outwardly-unfolded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Pan Air Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10752347
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor hub which rotates about a hub rotation axis and a blade connected to the rotor hub. The blade rotates with the rotor hub around the hub rotation axis, and the blade is configured to rotate around a pitch rotation axis of the blade to adjust a pitch of the blade. The rotor assembly includes a pitch horn having a first end rotatably connected to the blade. The pitch horn is configured to rotate with the blade around the pitch rotation axis of the blade to adjust the pitch of the blade, and the pitch horn is configured to rotate relative to the blade around a pitch horn pivot axis arranged at a non-parallel angle relative to the pitch rotation axis of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lance Halcom, Frank P. D'Anna, Leonard J. Doolin
  • Patent number: 10480481
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for wave power generation. In one aspect, a wave power generator device includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly encased within a tube frame. The stator assembly includes an array of inductor coils in a fixed position within a cavity of the tube frame and a plurality of bearings coupled to the tube frame. The rotor assembly includes a turbine rotor having a central hub and peripheral blades coupled to a high inertia annular flywheel that is moveably engaged with the bearings of the stator assembly, and an array of magnets arranged to be evenly spaced and of alternating axial polarity from one another extending from the annular flywheel into the cavity between the array of inductor coils, such that electric currents are produced based on magnetic field interaction of the magnets with the inductor coils during the rotation of the annular flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: EIP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Steve Burkle
  • Patent number: 10473087
    Abstract: A Multi Axes Wind Turbine of the present invention comprises a multi axes turntable assembly in rotations with a mounted assembly of pairs of planet and sun airfoils for generating a net of substantial powers from generally straight flowing applied wind or airflow. Planet airfoils, been in a fixed rotational orientation relative to and in rotation around a stationary sun rotor, are always facing against applied wind. Different from planet airfoils, sun airfoils are in radial alignment to and in rotation around the sun rotor, and are rotated by applied wind from any direction. In combination, paired planet and sun airfoils alternate as wind shields in rotations around a stationary sun rotor to greatly enhance powers generated while greatly reduce powers lost. A Multi Axes Wind Turbine operated in reverse is a multi-axes tower fan to propel a substantial volume of generally straight flowing wind or airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: George Pul
  • Patent number: 10464665
    Abstract: A bottom abutment device for a rotor having a plurality of lift assemblies. The bottom abutment device comprises at least one abutment track per lift assembly. The bottom abutment device comprises a plate with a ring and one branch per lift assembly. The bottom abutment device has a plurality of supports, each support fastenable to a rotary member of the rotor, each support extending in part in an opening in a branch, the supports giving the plate a restricted degree of freedom to move in translation, the supports giving the plate at least one restricted degree of freedom to move in rotation about the axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Alain Eberhard, Fabien Massal
  • Patent number: 10000283
    Abstract: Elastomeric bearings exhibit a reactive positive spring effect, i.e., they produce an opposing torque or force when angular displacement or translation is applied upon them, due to shear stress developed within their elastomer parts. The present invention incorporates a device that exhibits an increasingly strong torque or force in the same direction as the displacement, i.e., a negative spring, under similar conditions of movement. When properly calibrated, the subject type of device can be used in paralleled motion with the ordinary reactive elastomeric bearing to produce a combined effect in which at least a part of the torque or force of the elastomeric bearing is compensated or minimized over a range of movement, particularly in helicopter rotor blade retention applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: William L. Hinks
  • Patent number: 9879722
    Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises a bearing, a shim disposed within the bearing, and a component disposed within the shim. The shim comprises a first material, the component comprises a second material, and the first material has an elastic modulus value that is lower than an elastic modulus value of the second material. An apparatus comprises an elastomeric bearing, a fiberglass shim, and a steel spindle that is connected to the elastomeric bearing through the shim. A method for reducing strain in an adhesive layer that connects a bearing to a component comprises selecting a shim material having an elastic modulus value that is less than an elastic modulus value of the component and providing instructions to connect the component to the shim by placing the adhesive layer between an outer surface of the component and an inner surface of the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Chad Lewis Jarrett, Frank Bradley Stamps, Daniel P. Sottiaux
  • Patent number: 9638209
    Abstract: An attachment that attaches to the trailing edge of a ceiling fan blade has a curved and flexible dam that curves rearwardly from the trailing edge and downwardly from a lower surface of the fan blade. When the ceiling fan is operational and fan blades are rotating, the curved dam interacts with the air moved by the fan blade and directs the air in a downwardly direction toward the occupants of the room where the fan is installed. At increased fan speeds, the dam flattens out, decreasing any additional load placed on the motor of the fan by the downwardly curved dam. One attachment is attached to each of the blades of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Van Scott Cogley
  • Patent number: 9637228
    Abstract: A rotor having a hub and a plurality of lift assemblies, the rotor having one lead/lag abutment mechanism per lift assembly. Each abutment mechanism includes an elastomer spacer strip and two C-shaped metal clips engaged respectively on a first base and on a second base of the strip. Two fastener pins each pass through a clip and the longitudinal projections of a base and through an orifice in the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Stephane Mazet, Sandra Bencardino
  • Patent number: 9586680
    Abstract: An abutment mechanism for limiting the flapping of the blades of a rotor (1). High abutment members (6) can be moved into an engagement position by return means (13) exerting an intrinsic return force (R), and into a disengagement position by a flyweight (10) exerting a centrifugal force (C) under the effect of the rotor (1) rotating. At least one magnetic type bistable latch (15) is in selective engagement with the high abutment members (6). When the rotor (1) is stationary and while it is starting to rotate, an engagement latch (15) engages with the high abutment member (6) to prevent it passing from the engagement position towards the disengagement position. At a predetermined centrifugal force threshold, the engagement of the engagement latch (15) with the high abutment member (6) is broken, and the high abutment member (6) quickly passes into the disengagement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Jean Mondet
  • Patent number: 9388599
    Abstract: Tall wind towers can be erected using a mobile tilting frame comprising a major gin pole and a minor gin pole having a longitudinal axis. The tilting frame has a support cable connecting the major/minor gin poles. The minor gin pole can pivot relative to the major gin pole so that the longitudinal axis of the minor gin pole can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the major gin pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Parsons Corporation
    Inventor: Elie Habib Homsi
  • Patent number: 9322290
    Abstract: A propeller nozzle for watercraft, includes a nozzle and a propeller having at least one propeller blade which can rotate about a propeller axis and which spans a propeller area through rotation about the propeller axis. The propeller blade has a propeller blade end region wherein the propeller is disposed inside the nozzle in such a manner that a circumferential gap in the circumferential direction of the propeller nozzle is formed between the propeller end region and the inner wall of the nozzle. A marginal flow running from a nozzle in the area of the inner wall of the nozzle can flow through the gap, wherein the performance losses which occur due to turbulence of the marginal flow during flow around the propeller blade end region are kept as low as possible. Flow guiding apparatus guides at least one part of the marginal flow onto the propeller area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BECKER MARINE SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Schulze
  • Patent number: 9284947
    Abstract: A windmill rotates on a vertical axis, with plural articulated working members circling around. Each working member has a pivotal edge like a vane, a flag or a hinged door, swings on its own axis and is also rotatable around the central axis. On the axis of each working member is furnished a joint controller to restrain the movement of each, flipping and engaging the favorable wind in about ¾ turn of the central axis but disengaging in the rest ¼ turn. The engagement of the controller is elastically releasable on excessive load or over-speeding, allowing the respective working member to skip the engaging temporarily during each rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Zhong Ai Xia
  • Patent number: 8920119
    Abstract: A Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is provided and includes a turbine hub having an end plate and a nose cone attached thereto at trailing and leading ends, respectively, a governor shaft, to which turbine blades are connected, which is coupled to the end plate and supported within the nose cone to be rotatable with the turbine blades about a central axis thereof and axially movable from a first position relative to the turbine hub to a second position relative to the turbine hub and a hub assembly operably coupled to the turbine hub, the governor shaft and the turbine blades whereby the hub assembly biases the governor shaft toward the first position at low rotational speeds such that the turbine blades assume a partial coarse pitch angle, and the second position at high rotational speeds such that the turbine blades assume a fine pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: David G. Bannon
  • Patent number: 8899927
    Abstract: A device is described herein that harnesses wind energy by employing large rectangular airfoils mounted on a rotating frame. As the frame rotates, sliders cause the airfoils to expand and contract in a cyclical pattern. The aerodynamic drag of the airfoils is maximized during the power stroke and minimized during the recoil stroke. When subjected to wind, the wind causes more pressure on the expanded airfoils than the contracted ones, which drives rotation of the entire frame. The design is highly scalable, limited only by stiffness and strength limitations of the materials used in its construction. It may be possible to achieve efficiency of power generation that greatly surpasses that of traditional propeller style windmills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: John Andrew Nelsen
  • Patent number: 8876474
    Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) in which a cam follower is operably coupled to turbine blades such that a cam follower position determines turbine blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: David Everett Russ
  • Patent number: 8857581
    Abstract: A rotor hub and method to dampen a force exerted on a rotor hub by a rotor blade during flight. The rotor hub including a central member rotatably coupled to a rotor mast, a blade grip rigidly attached to a blade and movably coupled to the central member, and an adjustable damper operably associated with the blade grip. The method includes damping the force exerted on the rotor hub with the adjustable damper and selectively adjusting the adjustable damper between a first spring rate and a second spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Michael R. Smith, Christopher M. Bothwell, Lawrence M. Corso, James L. Braswell, Jr., David A. Popelka, Ernst C. Schellhase, Charles L. Hollimon, Thomas J. Newman, Bryan Baskin, Thomas C. Campbell, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8844429
    Abstract: A beverage maker, such as a pump espresso machine, comprises a noise attenuator reducing pump noise. The noise attenuator has a housing with an inlet chamber receiving inlet flow from an inlet port, the inlet chamber having compliant walls permitting volumetric expansion. An outlet chamber in the noise attenuator housing has an outlet port and spheroidal walls. A flow-restrictor is disposed between the inlet and outlet chambers. An elastomeric insert in the housing forms the inlet chamber and at least part of the outlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: G.E.W. International Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Chung Lik Yip
  • Publication number: 20140271182
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a yoke operably associated with a rotor blade. The yoke includes a first device and a second device that attach the rotor blade to the yoke. The first device is configured to allow transverse movement of the rotor blade about a chord axis and rotational movement about a pitch-change axis. The second device is configured to allow rotational movement of the rotor blade solely about the pitch-change axis. The method includes rotating rotor assembly about a first plane of rotation, while retaining a relatively stiff out-of-plane rotation and a relatively soft in-plane rotation during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Mithat Yuce, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 8807938
    Abstract: A combined ceiling fan and light fitting (fan/light) having folding fan blades is provided. The fan light has a blade support arranged to be rotated by an electric motor, with blades being secured to the blade support, a root end of each blade being pivotable between folded and operative positions about a blade pivot axis fixed in the blade support. In one aspect of the invention, an improved mechanism is provided for synchronizing movement of the blades. This uses a sun gear mounted to the blade support and arranged to mesh with planet gears that rotate about the blade pivot axes. In addition improvements are provided to blades and blade mounting arrangements that balance compact folding of the blades and good air moving effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Beacon Lighting International Limited
    Inventor: Joe Villella
  • Patent number: 8790085
    Abstract: There is provided a combined ceiling fan and light fitting (10) having blades (1-4) that when the ceiling fan is not in use retract and are stowed above an enclosure (12) containing a light emitting device and that when the fan is in use are extended under centrifugal force. The blades are formed in such a way as to both stow compactly above the enclosure and provide reasonable aerodynamic performance. Each blade partially overlies a neighboring blade when in its stowed position and the blades are so formed as to permit such stacking while limiting the overall height of the assemblage of stowed blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Beacon Lighting International Limited
    Inventor: Joe Villella
  • Publication number: 20140193253
    Abstract: A propeller rotor has a hub mounting a plurality of blades. A counterweight is movably mounted on the blade. A pitch change mechanism for changing an angle of incidence of an airfoil is associated with each of the blades. The counterweight twists the blades toward an increased pitch direction should the pitch change mechanism fail. A stop member stops rotation of the counterweight as the blade moves to a feather position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul A. Carvalho
  • Patent number: 8770934
    Abstract: A teeter mechanism for a multiple-bladed wind turbine includes a rotor shaft operable to rotate about a first axis. A spherical member is rotatable about the first axis along with the rotor shaft. A plurality of turbine blades is mounted to a rotor hub. The rotor hub rotationally drives the rotor shaft, and is operable to teeter about the spherical member such that the rotor hub rotates about the first axis in a first position and rotates about a second axis offset from the first axis in a second, teeter position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert H. Perkinson
  • Publication number: 20140178199
    Abstract: A rotor system has a rotor, an axis of rotation about which the rotor may be rotated, a linkage system having a first adjustable length portion and a second adjustable length portion, wherein the second adjustable length portion is configured to provide a relatively finer adjustment of an overall effective length of the linkage system as compared to the first adjustable length portion and wherein the rotor is configured to rotate about the axis in response to changing the overall effective length of the linkage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Wiinikka
  • Patent number: 8752784
    Abstract: An aircraft rotary wing motion control fluid device providing motion control and with wireless sensing of at least one fluid property inside the fluid device is provided. The wireless sensing system is integrated with at least one of the first and second aircraft rotary wing motion control fluid device bodies. The wireless sensing system includes at least one fluid property sensor in sensing proximity to the at least one fluid chamber and a communications device for wirelessly conveying a measurement made by the at least one fluid property sensor to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Jolly, Zachary Fuhrer, Robert E. Fogle, David M. Catanzarite
  • Patent number: 8746663
    Abstract: A mechanically adjustable elastomer bearing based on a correspondingly arranged spring element whose spring stiffness can be adjusted or pretensioned individually by deformable elastomer bodies or elastomer layers. The deformation of the elastomer layers, and thus of the spring elements, is achieved by a pressure-generated device which is fully integrated into the spring element. The elastomer bearing are particularly suitable for use as bearings in rotor and gearbox for large wind turbines, but can also advantageously be employed in machine and vehicle construction, and in particular package clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: FM Energie GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Mitsch
  • Publication number: 20140119917
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine may include a platform, an airfoil extending above the platform, and a root structure extending below the platform. The root structure may extend from a forward face to an aft face and include a shank region proximate the platform and a lower portion distal to the platform. The forward face of the shank region may project outward from the forward face of the lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Solar Turbines Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8708654
    Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine with a ball-and-socket hub is disclosed. The hub provides for a second vertical axis, the hub axis, intersecting the center of the hub that enables a change in orientation of the rotor axis without changing the orientation of the main shaft axis. The cause for the rotation around the hub axis is an imbalance in torque applied by the blades across a wind shear axis due to a gradient in wind velocity. Rotation around the hub axis will continue until back-and-forth rotation of the blades is such that the torque is balanced across a wind shear axis and the rotor axis is set at an optimal angle. As changes in wind direction occur, the torque will become imbalanced, and the hub will rotate until a new optimal angle is achieved. The present turbine design allows for the hub to freely rotate ±20° around the hub axis and continuously maintain orientation of the rotor axis at an optimal angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Arnold Ramsland
  • Publication number: 20140112786
    Abstract: A damper body extends between an axial first end, an opposing axial second end, a first lateral side, and an opposing second lateral side. A first pair of lugs are disposed at the first axial end and a second pair of lugs are disposed at the second axial end. In the first lug pair, a lug has an axially outermost foot which extends laterally beyond a lateral wall. The second lug pair has a lug with an axial outermost point with a foot extending laterally beyond a lateral wall. The foot on the first axial end and the foot on the second axial end are on opposed lateral sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Patent number: 8695917
    Abstract: A vibration damping mechanism (90) for damping vibrations to prevent coupling of vibration modes of the carrier structure (106) with vibration modes of a rotor (100) secured to the carrier structure (106). The mechanism comprises a support (3) suitable for being fastened to the rotor (100) and at least one resonator (1) including a mass (5) carried by the support (3) via mobile mounts (6) for mounting the mass (5) to move on the support (3), the mechanism (90) including at least one damper (8) for damping the resonator (1), with the damper being interposed between the resonator (1) and an engagement member (9) on the support (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Paul Cranga, Thomas Manfredotti, Joachim Re, Matthieu Pula
  • Patent number: 8647061
    Abstract: A wind turbine system includes a shaft, a rotor for driving the shaft, and a first fluidic teeter control assembly. The rotor includes a first blade engaged to the shaft by a hub, and has a degree of freedom to pivot relative to the shaft. A first teeter angle is defined between an instantaneous position of the first blade and a time-averaged plane of rotation of the first blade. The first fluidic teeter control assembly is engaged between the rotor and the shaft for providing a first dynamic teeter restraining force as a function of the first teeter angle and a fluidic resistance. The first dynamic restraining force is relatively low when the first teeter angle is within a first teeter operation range, and the first dynamic restraining force is higher when the first teeter angle is outside that range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Fabio R. Bertolotti
  • Patent number: 8636472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a damper (10) provided with an inner end strength member (20) and an outer end strength member (30) that are tubular and coaxial, a return member (40) being arranged between the inner end strength member (20) and the outer end strength member (30). The return member (40) includes an intermediate strength member (43) coaxial with the inner and outer end strength members (20, 30), said return member (40) having first and second return means (41, 42), said first return means (41) being arranged between the outer end strength member (30) and said intermediate strength member (43), said second return means (42) being arranged between the inner end strength member (20) and said intermediate strength member (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Charles Louis, Matthieu Ferrant
  • Patent number: 8632062
    Abstract: An elastomeric high capacity laminated (HCL) bearing for rotary wing aircraft and method of making is provided. The elastomeric HCL bearing is mold bonded using structural adhesives with a given elastomeric subassembly tensile strength between a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim. The structural adhesive has a limited elongation and a first end tensile strength ?elastomeric subassembly tensile strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Frank O. James
  • Patent number: 8608432
    Abstract: A fan configured for integration with a structure having at least two support members is disclosed. The fan comprises a fan guard, a fan blade surrounded by the fan guard, and first and second mounting brackets. Each of the first and second mounting brackets is configured for connection to a respective one of the support members. The fan also comprises first and second connectors oppositely disposed on the fan guard and configured for connection to a respective one of first and second mounting brackets. The first and second connectors are adjustable with respect to the first and second mounting brackets, and the fan is configured to rotate between at least two struts. Rotation of the fan between the at least two struts is limited such that an opening defined by one of the struts and said fan guard does not exceed a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel McKie Morgan
  • Patent number: 8596979
    Abstract: A ceiling sweep fan comprising a rotor supported for axial rotation about upper and lower housings, the rotor supporting a plurality of radially extending fan blades, the upper housing and rotor enclosing an electric motor that drives the rotor; wherein the fan includes stop means to cause the rotor to stop at a fixed position relative to the upper and lower housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Martec Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Cristian Victor Care
  • Patent number: 8573937
    Abstract: A system for providing dynamic pitch control in a wind turbine. In accordance with an embodiment, the dynamic pitch control uses a starting spring to pitch the blades of the wind turbine into a starting position that is suited for very low wind speeds. The pitch control then automatically pitches the blades into a run position as the rotation speed increases, using a combination of a rotational mass and a restraining spring. This allows the turbine to be started, and to generate power, at a much lower starting wind speed yet still operate at optimal speeds in its typical running range. In accordance with an embodiment, as the wind speed further increases beyond an overspeed limit, the rotational mass overcomes its restraining spring, and automatically pitches the blades back toward and beyond their start position, reducing the likelihood of damage to the turbine caused by high rotation speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Xzeres Corp.
    Inventor: Robert W. Preus
  • Patent number: 8529207
    Abstract: A pump wheel for a pump has a base body that can be rotated about a rotational axis and on which at least one wing element is arranged for conveying a fluid during the rotation of the pump wheel. The pump wheel has a pivoting device by which the at least one wing element is mounted in such a way that it can pivot about a pivoting axis arranged at an angle larger than zero degrees in relation to the rotational axis of the pump wheel, according to a rotational direction, between an action position in which a conveyor pressure for the fluid can be generated, and an idle position in which there is essentially no conveyor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Michal Kalavsky
  • Patent number: 8529205
    Abstract: A blade pitch control mechanism for a propeller assembly (10) includes an actuation shaft (24) having a spherical member (28) located at a propeller axis (22). A yoke (40) is located around the spherical member (28) and is rotatable thereon about a yoke tilt axis (62) substantially perpendicular to the propeller axis (22). The yoke (40) includes a plurality of propeller blade attachments (44), each receptive of a propeller blade (14). The plurality of blade attachments (44) are configured such that rotation of the yoke (40) about the yoke tilt axis (62) results in rotation of each propeller blade (14) about a blade pitch change axis (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert H. Perkinson
  • Patent number: 8496435
    Abstract: A rotor for a helicopter, having a drive shaft rotating about a first axis; a hub angularly integral with the drive shaft about the first axis; and at least two blades projecting from the hub on opposite sides of the first axis and elongated along respective second axes crosswise to the first axis; each blade is movable with respect to the hub and to the other blade about a respective third axis crosswise to the respective second axis; the rotor has at least two dampers for damping oscillation of respective blades about the respective third axes, and which have respective first portions movable integrally with the respective blades about the respective third axes; and the dampers have respective second portions connected elastically to the respective first portions and functionally to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Agusta S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Nannoni, Dante Ballerio, Pierre Abdel Nour, Attilio Colombo
  • Patent number: 8496433
    Abstract: A wind mill structure of a lift-type vertical axis wind turbine. The lift-type vertical axis wind turbine includes a vertical shaft and the wind mill includes a plurality of blades and supporting arms. The supporting arms hold the blades, and the blades are connected to the vertical shaft via the supporting arms. A setting angle, formed by a chord of the blades and a tangent line that goes through the center of the blades, ranges from ?12° to 12°. An angle, formed by the chord of the blade and the rotatable supporting arm, ranges from 7° to 100°. The wind mill can maintain relatively stable rotation speeds under wind speeds exceeding the rated wind speed by adjusting the angle of the supporting arms, thereby ensuring stable output from the vertical axis wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventors: Qiang Yan, Yihui Shen, Dong Zhang, Chaoqi Jiang, Haifeng Niu
  • Publication number: 20130164131
    Abstract: A rotary wing system with a rotating blade and a fluid damper with a damper fluid in a first variable volume chamber and a second variable volume chamber, with a fluid damping flow valve controlled conduit and a fluid flow pressure sensing control valve assembly between the first variable volume chamber and the second variable volume chamber. The fluid flow pressure sensing control valve assembly has a fluid flow pressure sensing control valve assembly control valve for obstructing a damper fluid flow through the fluid damping flow valve controlled conduit. A working of the first variable volume chamber and the second variable volume chamber by rotary wing motions actuates the opening of the fluid flow pressure sensing control valve assembly control valve that obstructs the damper fluid flow through the fluid damping flow valve controlled conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: LORD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donald D. Russell
  • Publication number: 20130164134
    Abstract: Downwind wind turbine with limited yaw, held by guy wires (105) attached to the top of turbine's tower (101), as well as a method of its deployment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: Leonid Goldstein