Having Turbine Patents (Class 60/805)
  • Publication number: 20140250897
    Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a hub, a plurality of blades radially extending from the hub and being integrally formed therewith. The hub having a rim from which the blades project and a pair of axially opposed split hub members extending at least radially inward from the rim. Each of the split hub members has a radially outer flex arm portion extending form the hub and a radially inner moment flange portion. At least one moment inducing element separately formed from the hub is mounted axially between the opposed split hub members and acts on the moment flange portions of the opposed split hub members to generate an inward bending moment on the flex arm portions of the opposed split hub members during rotation of the rotor, thereby deflecting the rim and the blades of the rotor radially inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Alexandre AYERS
  • Publication number: 20140245752
    Abstract: A system for attaching a rotating blade in a turbine includes a bush having an axial slot and a radial slot that intersects with the axial slot. A radial retention member fits within the radial slot, and an axial retention member fits within the axial slot and engages with the radial retention member. A method for attaching a rotating blade in a turbine includes inserting a bush into an axial passage in a rotor wheel and inserting a radial retention member into a radial passage in the rotor wheel and through at least a portion of the bush. The method further includes inserting the rotating blade in a slot in the rotor wheel, inserting the radial retention member into a retention slot in the rotating blade, and inserting an axial retention member into the bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140245753
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an airfoil extending in span between a root region and a tip region and a tip portion extending at an angle from the tip region of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Patent number: 8825214
    Abstract: A method is provided for the measurement of parameters of a gas present in a gas turbine combustion chamber. The method includes tuning a laser to a range containing the absorption lines of species to be analyzed in the gas, and directing the laser light through the combustion chamber and detecting laser light reflected off boundary walls of the combustion chamber. In order to analyze the absorption spectrum measured at high temperatures and pressures, a signature recognition algorithm is applied to the spectrum. The measured absorption spectrum is cross-correlated with a calibration absorption model spectrum for the absorption lines at several temperatures, pressures, and concentrations generated prior to the measurement. Values for pressure, temperature, and concentrations of selected species in the gas are determined simultaneously allowing direct control of the combustion chamber process. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Yves Haffner
  • Publication number: 20140238043
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine system. Another embodiment is a unique exhaust nozzle system for a gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engine systems and exhaust nozzle systems for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLSROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jagdish S. Sokhey, Anthony F. Pierluissi
  • Publication number: 20140216046
    Abstract: Integrated gas turbine combustion engine and ion transport membrane system comprising a gas turbine combustion engine including a compressor with a compressed oxygen-containing gas outlet; a combustor comprising an outer shell, a combustion zone in flow communication with the compressed oxygen-containing gas outlet, and a dilution zone in flow communication with the combustion zone and having one or more dilution gas inlets; and a gas expander. The system includes an ion transport membrane oxygen recovery system with an ion transport membrane module that includes a feed zone, a permeate zone, a feed inlet to the feed zone in flow communication with the compressed oxygen-containing gas outlet of the compressor, a feed zone outlet, and a permeate withdrawal outlet from the permeate zone. The feed zone outlet of the membrane module is in flow communication with any of the one or more dilution gas inlets of the combustor dilution zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Concepts ETI, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Armstrong, Elia P. Demetri
  • Publication number: 20140208760
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a transmission having a first rotatable member coupled to an engine spool, a second rotatable member coupled to a compressor rotor, and coupled rotatable members defining at least first and second alternate transmission paths between the first and second members. Each transmission path defines a different fixed transmission ratio of a rotational speed of the second member on a rotational speed of the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean DUBREUIL, Stephen KENNY
  • Publication number: 20140202170
    Abstract: An article has a polymeric substrate and a coating system. The coating system includes a metallic plating and a polymeric coating atop the metallic plating. The metallic plating has a thickness of at least 0.05 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140202160
    Abstract: A system including a gas turbine engine, including a combustor configured to generate products of combustion, a turbine driven by the products of combustion from the combustor, a compressor having a compressor discharge leading into a chamber between the combustor and a compressor discharge casing, an extraction manifold coupled to the combustor, wherein the extraction manifold is fluidly coupled to the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Brandon Taylor Overby
  • Publication number: 20140196473
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. A speed reduction device such as an epicyclical gear assembly may be utilized to drive the fan section such that the fan section may rotate at a speed different than the turbine section so as to increase the overall propulsive efficiency of the engine. In such engine architectures, a shaft driven by one of the turbine sections provides an input to the epicyclical gear assembly that drives the fan section at a speed different than the turbine section such that both the turbine section and the fan section can rotate at closer to optimal speeds providing increased performance attributes and performance by desirable combinations of the disclosed features of the various components of the described and disclosed gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140196472
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. A speed reduction device such as an epicyclical gear assembly may be utilized to drive the fan section such that the fan section may rotate at a speed different than the turbine section so as to increase the overall propulsive efficiency of the engine. In such engine architectures, a shaft driven by one of the turbine sections provides an input to the epicyclical gear assembly that drives the fan section at a speed different than the turbine section such that both the turbine section and the fan section can rotate at closer to optimal speeds providing increased performance attributes and performance by desirable combinations of the disclosed features of the various components of the described and disclosed gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140190181
    Abstract: A cover plate for a rotor disk in a gas turbine machine includes a cylindrical body having multiple outward facing snaps and multiple inward facing snaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Borja, Ehren B. Holt
  • Publication number: 20140182309
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core engine having a compressor section fluidly connected to a combustor section that is also fluidly connected to a turbine section. A core nacelle surrounds the core engine and includes a core nozzle. A fan is connected to the compressor section and is arranged upstream from the core engine. A gear train interconnects the turbine section to the fan. A fan nacelle at least partially surrounds the core nacelle and includes a fan nozzle. The fan is disposed in the fan nacelle. At least one of the fan nozzle and core nozzle includes circumferentially fixed chevrons that provide a fixed exit area throughout engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Amr Ali
  • Publication number: 20140174098
    Abstract: A disc with two sides includes a hub having a bore and a bore radius, a neck, and a rim. The neck is connected to and radially outward of the hub and has an inner wedge with a curved section on one side of the disc, an outer wedge with a curved section on that same side of the disc, and a center section between the wedges with a flat side on that same side of the disc. The rim is connected to and radially outward of the neck, the rim having a radius that is no more than seven times greater than the bore radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Loc Quang Duong, Xiaolan Hu
  • Publication number: 20140165582
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a gas turbine engine including a compressor, a turbine, an annular combustor, an exhaust duct, a first engine shaft bearing, and a second engine shaft bearing. The turbine has an axial flow direction toward the compressor. The combustor has an axial flow direction away from the compressor. The exhaust duct is disposed between the compressor and the combustor. The first engine shaft bearing is disposed on an axial side of the compressor opposite the turbine. The second engine shaft bearing is disposed on an axial side of the turbine opposite the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor Pascu, Nipulkumar G. Shah
  • Publication number: 20140165591
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine stage includes a rotor having a slot. A blade has a root received in the slot, and a shank that extends radially outward from the root to a platform that supports an airfoil. A seal is supported on the shank and in engagement circumferentially between and with the shank and the rotor within the slot. A gas turbine engine includes compressor and turbine sections. The turbine section has a rotor with a slot. A combustor is provided axially between the compressor and turbine sections. A turbine blade in the turbine section includes a root received in the slot and a shank that extends radially outward from the root to a platform that supports an airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth J. Thomen, Wieslaw A. Chlus
  • Publication number: 20140165592
    Abstract: A compressor blade for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The compressor blade may have a root configured to engage a hub of the gas turbine engine, and an airfoil radially extending a distance from the root to a tip. The airfoil may have a suction side, a pressure side, a leading edge connecting the suction and pressure sides, and a trailing edge connecting the suction and pressure sides opposite the leading edge. The distance that the airfoil extends from the root to the tip may be divided into a plurality of radially adjacent regions. At least one, but not all, of the plurality of radially adjacent regions away from the base and the tip may have a substantially constant thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeremiah W. KEY
  • Publication number: 20140150454
    Abstract: A turbine blade is disclosed. The turbine blade may include a platform, an airfoil extending from one side of the platform, and a neck extending from another side of the platform, wherein the neck includes a forward buttress and an aft buttress. The turbine blade may further include a root extending from the neck, a pocket defined by a plurality of walls and located between the forward. buttress and the aft buttress, and a variable radius fillet. The variable radius fillet may be disposed within the pocket and extend between the forward buttress and the aft buttress, wherein a radius of the variable radius fillet increases from the forward buttress to the aft buttress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Solar Turbines Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20140144157
    Abstract: A dovetail attachment seal for a turbomachine includes an outer seal member having a first end that extends to a second end through an intermediate portion, and at least one articulating element encapsulated, at least in part, by the outer seal member at one of the first and second ends. The at least one articulating element is slidingly disposed within the outer seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Ralph Cairo, Kevin Leon Bruce
  • Publication number: 20140144158
    Abstract: A turbomachine component includes a first housing portion having a first end that extends to a second end. At least one of the first and second ends includes a first sealing surface having a seal receiving passage. A second housing portion includes a first end that extends to a second end. At least one of the first and second ends includes a second sealing surface configured and disposed to register with the first sealing surface. A seal member is provided in the seal receiving passage. The seal member includes a plurality of bristles that extend toward the second sealing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Karimulla Shaik Sha, Sayed Murtuza Ahmed, Shoib Ahmed Shariff
  • Publication number: 20140137559
    Abstract: A combustor section for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor vane which extends at least partially into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Publication number: 20140130513
    Abstract: A compressor section of a gas turbine generally includes a stage of inlet guide vanes positioned adjacent to an inlet of the compressor section and a stage of rotor blades disposed downstream from the inlet guide vanes. A stage of stator vanes is positioned downstream from the stage of rotor blades. The stage of stator blades includes a row of leading guide vanes having a trailing edge. A row of trailing guide vanes coupled to an actuator is disposed between two corresponding adjacent leading guide vanes. Each of the trailing guide vanes includes a trailing edge. The leading edge of each trailing guide vane is disposed upstream of the trailing edge of a corresponding leading guide vane when the trailing guide vane is in an open position and downstream from the trailing edge of the corresponding leading guide vane when the trailing guide vane is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ya-tien Chiu, John David Stampfli, Rudolf Selmeier
  • Patent number: 8720205
    Abstract: With turbine segments controlled electrically in a shaftless design, the turbine of the present invention creates high propulsion efficiencies over a broader range of operating conditions through the integration of gas turbine, electric and magnetic power systems, advanced materials and alternative petroleum-based combustion cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Richard H. Lugg
  • Patent number: 8720207
    Abstract: A gas turbine is disclosed which includes an annular combustion chamber defined by an inner wall and an outer wall. A stator airfoil row can be defined by an annular inner stator wall and an annular outer stator wall housing a plurality of stator airfoils, and at least a rotor airfoil row defined by an annular inner rotor wall and an annular outer rotor wall housing a plurality of rotor airfoils. A gap is arranged, for example, between at least one of the inner stator wall and the inner combustion chamber wall, and the outer stator wall and the outer combustion chamber wall, upstream of said stator airfoil row. A border of at least one of the inner and outer stator wall facing the gap can be axisymmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Frank Gersbach, Christian Sommer, Willy Heinz Hofmann, Ulrich Steiger
  • Patent number: 8720208
    Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine includes a core engine 1 having a high pressure turbine 6 and a downstream low pressure turbine 7. A bypass duct 18 surrounds the core engine 1. A mixer 19 is arranged in an inlet portion of the low pressure turbine 7, into which a bypass flow 20 from the bypass duct 18 and a core flow 22 from the core engine 1 are supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Dimitrie Negulescu
  • Publication number: 20140123680
    Abstract: A preassembled modular drop-in combustor having internal components in conformity with assembly and function specifications prior to and after insertion into an industrial gas turbine access port and internal combustor transition. The combustor assembly maintains conformity with those specifications after insertion into the combustor case if it does not inadvertently impact other turbine components during its installation. Inadvertent impact is avoided by having a combustor service zone proximal the combustor case, enabling slidable insertion of each combustor assembly into its corresponding access port and transition along its corresponding insertion path without contacting other turbine system components. A multi-axis motion combustor handling tool in the combustor service zone, preferably under automatic control, is coupled to each combustor and facilitates precise alignment along the insertion path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: GLENN E. SANCEWICH, JOSE L. ALONSO, DANIEL E. FORD
  • Patent number: 8713945
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a liner, a casing surrounding the liner, a hula seal flexibly connected to an aft end of the liner and a liner aft support mechanism. The liner is configured to receive compressed gas and fuel at an upstream end, the mixture of the compressed gas and the fuel being burned in a combustion core area of the liner to yield hot exhaust gasses. The liner aft end support mechanism is located downstream from an area where a highest temperature on an outer surface of the liner is attained, and upstream to a portion where the hula seal is connected to the liner, and is configured to movably support the liner inside the casing. The liner aft end support mechanism includes at least three individual support elements configured to allow a part of the individual support elements to move in the flow direction relative to at least one of the liner or the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Balasundar Kuppusamy
  • Publication number: 20140116065
    Abstract: A sectorized nozzle for a turbine engine turbine including an inner sectorized annular platform and an outer sectorized annular platform connected together by radial airfoils, at least one of the platforms including a plurality of orifices for passing air in a neighborhood of its upstream end, the orifices being distributed over the circumference of the platform and opening out at their ends remote from the airfoils into a circumferential annular cavity of the sector of the platform, which cavity is closed by a metal sheet fastened to the platform sector and pierced by orifices for feeding cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8707711
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sealing a channel fluidly connecting between a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone. The apparatus has at least two brush seal elements provided in the channel in series in a direction from the high pressure zone toward the low pressure zone to define an intermediate zone between the brush seal elements. The intermediate zone is fluidly connected to the low pressure zone through a bypass or passage, allowing a fluid in the intermediate zone to flow in part through the bypass to the low pressure zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanimura
  • Publication number: 20140102115
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a turbo-engine, particularly internal combustion engine, comprising a housing and therein a bladeless turbine section (30; 42; 67) of the stacked disc- or Tesla-type construction, wherein the turbine section (30; 42; 67) has a plurality of closely spaced discs (32; 49; 61) arranged for common rotation about a rotation axis in the housing, said turbine section (30; 42; 67) is adapted for passing with tangential flow components a working fluid stream from a radially inner region to a radially outer region of said turbine section (30; 42; 67) while adopting energy from said working fluid stream for rotating the discs (30; 49; 61).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: AELLA SA
    Inventor: Slobodan Tepic
  • Publication number: 20140090401
    Abstract: An airfoil array is disclosed. The airfoil array may include an endwall, and a plurality of airfoils radially projecting from the endwall. Each airfoil may have a first side and an opposite second side extending axially in chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil array may further include a convex profiled region extending from the endwall adjacent the first side of at least one of said plurality of airfoils and near the leading edge of the at least one of said plurality of airfoils. The airfoil array may further include a concave profiled region in the endwall adjacent the first side of said at least one of said plurality of airfoils and aft of the convex profiled region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Praisner, Andrew S. Aggarwala, Eric A. Grover, Renee J. Jurek
  • Publication number: 20140083113
    Abstract: Flow control tabs for turbine sections are provided. The turbine section includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a bucket, the bucket having a shank. The rotor assembly and the stator assembly are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis and defining a flow cavity therebetween such that a cooling fluid flows therein. The flow control tab includes a mount surface configured for mounting to the stator assembly, a radially outer surface, a radially inner surface, and a leading edge. The leading edge connects the outer surface and the inner surface such that cooling fluid interacting with the leading edge is divided into an outer purge flow and an inner recirculation flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: John Ellington Greene
  • Patent number: 8677763
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a compressor for delivery of compressed air to a combustor. The combustor delivers hot combustion gas through an outlet to a turbine. The turbine includes a nozzle assembly, downstream turbine blades, and shroud assemblies adjacent radially distal ends of turbine rotor blades. The nozzle and shroud assemblies include internal cooling passages for receiving compressed air from the compressor and, cooling air apertures opening through walls of the vanes and shrouds into the hot gas path to release film cooling air. The number of apertures, the aperture area, and the aperture pattern are varied in relation to the circumferential temperature profile of the combustion gas with a higher aperture area and/or higher number of apertures in high temperature regions and a lower aperture area and/or lower number of apertures in low temperature regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Anca Hatman
  • Publication number: 20140069108
    Abstract: Bucket assemblies are provided. The bucket assembly includes a shank, and an airfoil positioned radially outward of the shank. The bucket assembly further includes a main cooling circuit defined in the airfoil and the shank, the main cooling circuit comprising seven passages, each of the seven passages fluidly connected with an adjacent one of the seven passages. A maximum rotation number in each of the seven passages is less than or equal to approximately 0.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Richard Good, Gary Michael Itzel, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Publication number: 20140069110
    Abstract: Turbine bucket nominal internal core profiles and core insert external profiles are provided. In one embodiment, a turbine bucket includes an airfoil, platform, shank and dovetail. The bucket has a nominal internal core profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by a height of the bucket in inches, and wherein X and Y are non-dimensional values which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define internal core profile sections at each distance Z along the bucket, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form said bucket internal core profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Richard Good, Bradley Taylor Boyer, Xiaoyong Fu, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Jacob C. Perry, II
  • Publication number: 20140069109
    Abstract: A rotor in a gas turbine engine has a rotor body with at least one slot receiving a blade. The blade has an outer surface formed of a first material and an airfoil extending from a dovetail. The dovetail is received in the slot. A grounding element is in contact with a portion of the dovetail formed of a second material that is more electrically conductive than the first material. The grounding element is in contact with a rotating element that rotates with the rotor and is formed of a third material. The first material is less electrically conductive than the third material. The grounding element and rotating element together form a ground path from the portion of the dovetail into the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: James R. Murdock
  • Publication number: 20140060082
    Abstract: A shell air recirculation system for use in a gas turbine engine includes one or more outlet ports located at a bottom wall section of an engine casing wall and one or more inlet ports located at a top wall section of the engine casing wall. The system further includes a piping system that provides fluid communication between the outlet port(s) and the inlet port(s), a blower for extracting air from a combustor shell through the outlet port(s) and for conveying the extracted air to the inlet port(s), and a valve system for selectively allowing and preventing air from passing through the piping system. The system operates during less than full load operation of the engine to circulate air within the combustor shell but is not operational during full load operation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Evan C. Landrum, Jiping Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140060083
    Abstract: An example gas turbine engine includes a turbine and first and second spools coaxial with one another. The first spool is arranged within the second spool and extends between forward and aft ends. The aft end extends axially beyond the second spool and supports the turbine. A housing is arranged downstream from the turbine. First and second bearings are mounted to the aft end of the first spool and supported by the housing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corpration
    Inventor: Gregory M. Savela
  • Publication number: 20140060080
    Abstract: An example gas turbine engine includes a turbine and first and second spools coaxial with one another. The first spool is arranged within the second spool and extends between forward and aft ends. The aft end extends axially beyond the second spool and supports the turbine. A housing is arranged downstream from the turbine. First and second bearings are mounted to the aft end of the first spool and supported by the housing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Gregory M. Savela
  • Publication number: 20140060081
    Abstract: A vane cluster for a gas turbine engine includes multiple singlet vanes and a forward wear liner connecting a forward edge of each singlet vane, thereby allowing the vane cluster to be manipulated as a single component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Earl, Eric A. Kuehne
  • Patent number: 8661828
    Abstract: A turbomachine including an annular combustion chamber, a sectorized turbine nozzle arranged at an outlet from the chamber, and a sealing mechanism interposed axially between the chamber and the nozzle, the sealing mechanism including an annular gasket that is axially resilient. The gasket includes a first axial bearing mechanism for bearing against a downstream end of the chamber and a downstream annular lip that is sectorized, each sector of the downstream lip being in alignment with a sector of the nozzle and including a second axial bearing mechanism for bearing against an upstream end of the nozzle sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Christophe Pieussergues, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Publication number: 20140047838
    Abstract: Solar energy receivers and methods of using the same are provided. The receiver includes a plurality of absorber members configured to absorb concentrated solar radiation. The plurality of absorber members define at least one fluid transport channel. The solar receiver also includes a plurality of structural plates, wherein each of the plurality of structural plates is positioned between adjacent absorber members to define an inner fluid transport passage and a plurality of outer fluid transport passages. The inner fluid transport passage is in flow communication with the plurality of outer fluid transport passages. The plurality of outer fluid transport passages are in thermal communication with the plurality of absorber members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Marshall Meyers, Sebastian Walter Freund
  • Publication number: 20140047815
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a compressor, a fuel source, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor is configured to compress air. The fuel source is configured to supply fuel to a plurality of fuel manifolds. The combustor is configured to receive the air from the compressor, to receive the fuel from the plurality of fuel manifolds, and to combust the air and the fuel into combustion products. The turbine is configured to extract work from the combustion products. A fuel control valve is disposed within each of the plurality of fuel manifolds and is configured to throttle the fuel to the combustor when the gas turbine system is operating in an electrical island mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerardo F. Varillas, Skigh Elliot Lewis, Erhan Karaca, Alejandro Cesar Lopez
  • Publication number: 20140041395
    Abstract: A gas turbine burns the air compressed in a compressor with supplying fuel in a combustor so as to obtain rotary power by supplying the generated combustion gas to a turbine. The turbine includes turbine vane elements and turbine blade elements that are alternately positioned in a direction in which the combustion gas fluidizes in a turbine cylinder having a cylindrical shape, and a flue gas diffuser having a cylindrical shape and connected to a rear portion of the turbine cylinder. The turbine blade element includes a plurality of turbine blades positioned at equal intervals in the circumference direction. The turbine blades have a throat width on a longitudinal end side made larger than a throat width on a longitudinally intermediate portion side. This efficiently restores the pressure of the flue gas. This improves the efficiency of the turbine so that the performance can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kitagawa, Yasuro Sakamoto, Eisaku Ito
  • Patent number: 8646564
    Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary power unit includes a turbine to provide a turbine output, a fuel-fired burner that provides a heat source for the turbine, and a heat exchanger that receives the turbine output. The heat exchanger generates a heat exchanger output to produce a predetermined output condition such as heating/cooling a cabin compartment, heating an exhaust component to a desired temperature, and/or heating an engine block, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Navin Khadiya, Wilbur H. Crawley, III
  • Publication number: 20140026585
    Abstract: A means of attachment applicable to mating parts which have substantially different coefficients of thermal expansion is disclosed. The means of attachment substantially reduces the friction between the mating surfaces while still keeping the mating parts centered with respect to one another. The approach is based on radial recessed faces wherein the radial faces slide relative to each other. There may be three or more recessed/raised faces on each mating component, which when mated, maintain the alignment between the mating parts while allowing differential growth of the mating parts. This approach also the provides a much larger bearing surface for the attachment than a radial pin/slot approach, for example, and substantially eliminates areas of high stress concentration. It is thus a more robust design for components that undergo many thousands of thermal cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: ICR Turbine Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Stephen Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20140020404
    Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan and a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system. A lubrication system supporting the fan drive gear system provides lubricant to the gear system and removes thermal energy produced by the gear system. The lubrication system includes a capacity for removing energy equal to less than about 2% of energy input into the gear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Jason Husband
  • Publication number: 20140020403
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sealing device includes seal fins provided on an inner circumferential surface of a stationary body or an outer circumferential surface of a rotating body so as to be adjacent to each other in an axial direction of the rotating body in a gap between the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body and the inner circumferential surface of the stationary body. The device further includes at least one opening member provided on the inner circumferential surface of the stationary body, the opening member being provided at a position between seal fins adjacent to each other in the axial direction, and having holes opened on a side of the inner circumferential surface of the stationary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Tomohiko TSUKUDA, Yuki MIMURA, Akihiro ONODA, Naoki SHIBUKAWA, Iwataro SATO, Kazutaka TSURUTA
  • Publication number: 20140013772
    Abstract: A stator joint for a gas turbine engine has a center axis, and a shroud having a radial wall facing substantially radially with respect to the center axis. A slot wall defines in-part a slot in the shroud. A relief wall defines a relief area of the slot. The relief wall extends between the radial wall and the slot wall. A vane has an airfoil and a lug extending into the slot. A flowable attachment material is disposed in the relief area for engagement of the vane to the shroud. A vane assembly and a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Glen E. Potter
  • Patent number: 8628292
    Abstract: A flow channel with a branch channel perpendicular to a main channel including an edge defining an inlet opening of the branch channel is provided. A chamfer is disposed at the upstream edge of the inlet opening and a straight edge is disposed at the downstream edge of the inlet opening, perpendicular to the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: John David Maltson