Patents Assigned to General Electric Canada Inc.
  • Patent number: 6729843
    Abstract: Reaction hydraulic turbine that includes a draft tube having side wails arranged to define an inlet and an outlet and an elbow arranged to position the outlet substantially perpendicular to the inlet. A turbine runner is positioned adjacent the inlet and the outlet is arranged to define a flow exit, and a splitter vane is mounted within the draft tube to partially extend across a width of the draft tube. In this manner, flow is redirected about the elbow of the draft tube. The splitter vane includes opposing side edge surfaces that are spaced from the side walls, such that swirl flow is permitted around the splitter vane within the draft tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignees: General Electric Canada Inc., VA Tech Hydro GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alois Nichtawitz, Christian Karl Angerer, Stuart Thomas Coulson
  • Patent number: 6719227
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a gearless grinding mill motor includes fabricating a plurality of linear stator portions and assembling a grinding mill stator from the linear stator portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Serge Louis Scuccato
  • Patent number: 6677532
    Abstract: An isolated phase bus duct joint assembly couples together first and second phase bus duct sections where each section has an interior bus conductor surrounded by an outer housing. The joint assembly couples end portions of the interior bus conductor and has first and second conductor coupling portions each extending from the end portion of one of the interior bus conductors. Each coupling portion has a reduced outside dimension relative to the interior bus conductors. The joint assembly has a plurality of movable electrical contact fingers mounted by spring loaded adjustment fasteners around the outside surface of the first conductor coupling portion. Each of the fingers extends beyond the first conductor coupling portion for engagement with the outside surface of the second conductor coupling portion. The spring loaded adjustment fastener has a threaded stem passing through the finger and the first inner conductor coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Walter White, Bruce William Mills, Robert Henry Rehder
  • Publication number: 20030228188
    Abstract: A dual shaft and rotating machine coupling has a first rotatable shaft, a second rotatable shaft and a rotating machine rotor coupling. The first rotatable shaft has a first shaft connecting flange radially extending outwardly therefrom. The second rotatable shaft is axially aligned with the first rotatable shaft and has a second shaft connecting flange radially extending outwardly therefrom. The second shaft connecting flange is spaced from the first shaft connecting flange. The rotating machine rotor coupling has a rotor spider and a rotor connecting flange radially extending inwardly from the spider securely sandwiched between and in abutting relation with the first and second shaft connecting flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Walter White, Peter Truman
  • Publication number: 20030178214
    Abstract: An isolated phase bus duct joint assembly couples together first and second phase bus duct sections where each section has an interior bus conductor surrounded by an outer housing. The joint assembly couples end portions of the interior bus conductor and has first and second conductor coupling portions each extending from the end portion of one of the interior bus conductors. Each coupling portion has a reduced outside dimension relative to the interior bus conductors. The joint assembly has a plurality of movable electrical contact fingers mounted by spring loaded adjustment fasteners around the outside surface of the first conductor coupling portion. Each of the fingers extends beyond the first conductor coupling portion for engagement with the outside surface of the second conductor coupling portion. The spring loaded adjustment fastener has a threaded stem passing through the finger and the first inner conductor coupling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Walter White, Bruce William Mills, Robert Henry Rehder
  • Publication number: 20030178910
    Abstract: A rotary transformer has a bus duct assembly that extends through the hollow shaft of a rotary transformer from collector or slip rings positioned above a drive motor for the rotary transformer to end windings of the rotor positioned most remote from the drive motor. By positioning the leads of the bus duct connection with the rotor end windings on the rotor end windings most remote form the drive motor, the shaft strength and integrity is not reduced due to the torque applied by the drive motor. Further, the shaft is formed from two coupled shaft sections and the bus duct assembly comprises two L shaped sections each positioned substantially within a corresponding shaft section. The bus duct sections are interconnected to complete the bus duct assembly making it simpler to remove the first or upper shaft section from the second or lower shaft section during field servicing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Walter White, Bruce William Mills, Robert Henry Rehder
  • Patent number: 6588933
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for a rotating machine has a rotating ring and a bearing shoe for use in a non-filled oil chamber that permits oil flow through the bearing shoe. The oil flows out a leading recessed groove in the bearing shoe and across the bearing shoe surface. This permits for the oil flow to cool the bearing shoe and maintain lubrication between the bearing shoe and the rotating ring. Further, the non-filled oil chamber acts more as an oil collection chamber which provides two distinct advantages. One advantage is a reduction in bearing losses not present due to the elimination of swirling of the oil bath. The other advantage is one of servicing by the ability to inspect the bearings and all oil conduit connections without being encumbered by oil partially covering or surrounding the bearing shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James Harold Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6552452
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine has a stator member, a rotor member, a first shroud and a second shroud. The first shroud and the second shroud members are mounted to the rotor adjacent respective first and second end portions of the rotor for rotation with the rotor. The first and second shrouds extend radially over and are spaced from the respective radially extending first and second end portions of the rotor to respectively define radial inlet and outlet paths therewith. The first and second shrouds each have a first radially inner end adjacent and spaced from the shaft to define a gas inlet or outlet, respectively, and a second radial outer end mounted to the rotor adjacent and spaced apart the ventilation ducts for communicating gas between the ventilation ducts and the inlet and outlet paths. The second outlet shroud is spaced further from the shaft than the inlet shroud so as to facilitate the gas flowing in the inlet shroud and out the outlet shroud during normal machine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James Harold Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20020051592
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for a rotating machine has a rotating ring and a bearing shoe for use in a non-filled oil chamber that permits oil flow through the bearing shoe. The oil flows out a leading recessed groove in the bearing shoe and across the bearing shoe surface. This permits for the oil flow to cool the bearing shoe and maintain lubrication between the bearing shoe and the rotating ring. Further, the non-filled oil chamber acts more as an oil collection chamber which provides two distinct advantages. One advantage is a reduction in bearing losses not present due to the elimination of swirling of the oil bath. The other advantage is one of servicing by the ability to inspect the bearings and all oil conduit connections without being encumbered by oil partially covering or surrounding the bearing shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James Harold Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20020050748
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine has a stator member, a rotor member, a first shroud and a second shroud. The first shroud and the second shroud members are mounted to the rotor adjacent respective first and second end portions of the rotor for rotation with the rotor. The first and second shrouds extend radially over and are spaced from the respective radially extending first and second end portions of the rotor to respectively define radial inlet and outlet paths therewith. The first and second shrouds each have a first radially inner end adjacent and spaced from the shaft to define a gas inlet or outlet, respectively, and a second radial outer end mounted to the rotor adjacent and spaced apart the ventilation ducts for communicating gas between the ventilation ducts and the inlet and outlet paths. The second outlet shroud is spaced further from the shaft than the inlet shroud so as to facilitate the gas flowing in the inlet shroud and out the outlet shroud during normal machine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James Harold Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6300701
    Abstract: It is possible to monitor the performance of a lubrication system performance of a Dynamoelectric Machine (DEM) by observing the electric current flowing in the DEM shaft. Suitable Rogowski coils are mounted around the shaft of the rotor of a DEM just inboard the bearings. The Rogowski coil may be mounted on the shaft to rotate with the shaft, or it may be mounted on said DEM so as to surround the shaft and remain stationary. Shaft current magnitudes may be established for start-up and steady state operating conditions. Any deviation from the steady state shaft current magnitude may be taken as a warning that the DEM bearing lubrication system is malfunctioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond K. J. Ong, James Victor Kay, James H Dymond, Raymond David Findlay
  • Patent number: 6218757
    Abstract: Some dynamoelectric machines develop shaft E.M.F.'s during operation which lead to circulation currents in the shaft of the machine. The shaft current will attempt to flow through the bearings of the machine, unless some action is taken to prevent or limit said current flow. This invention minimizes the circulation of rotor shaft currents by providing a return path for the shaft current through an insulated conductor located in the center of the shaft of the machine. The insulated conductor is electrically attached to the shaft at the ends of the conductor. The conductor may extend the length of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc
    Inventors: Raymond K. J. Ong, James H. Dymond, Raymond D. Findlay
  • Patent number: 6205895
    Abstract: A tube cutter designed for cutting a pipe where access is limited to the interior of the tube only. A rotatable cutter head mounted at the end of an elongated drive shaft carries a plurality of cuffing wheels. The tube cutter is inserted into a tube to be cut from one end thereof using the elongated drive shaft to position the cutter head in the tube. When the cutter head is inserted into the predetermined location, a feed drive is energized which rotates a scroll head to cause the cutting wheels to move in a radial direction to advance and engage the interior surface of the tube in a concentric manner undergoing cutting. When the tube has been severed, the feed drive rotation is reversed to retract the cutting wheels into the rotatable head, so as to enable removal of the rotary tube cutter from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Schartinger, Terry Hunter
  • Patent number: 6139657
    Abstract: This invention relates to the production of a useful eutectic layer formed on a zirconium alloy or a titanium alloy substrate. The layer is formed by the surface contact with a beryllium strip being held in intimate contact with the surface of the zirconium or titanium alloy substrate while the zirconium or titanium alloy and the contacting beryllium strip are heated in an inert atmosphere to a temperature which is above the eutectic melting point and is held constant at that temperature for a predetermined time. At the prescribed time, the materials are allowed to cool and the beryllium strip is "removed" from the "surface" of the zirconium or titanium alloy substrate and the newly formed zirconium-beryllium or titanium-beryllium alloy eutectic is formed in the surface of the zirconium or titanium alloy substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Stewart Barclay, Jeffry James Temple, Michael D. Gabbani
  • Patent number: 5989702
    Abstract: A sandwich type insulation for electrical machinery comprising a laminate of a polymeric material such as polyimide which contains particles of an inorganic corona resistant material, said polymeric material being bonded to mica paper consisting of mica, wherein said mica paper may be impregnated with polymeric resin containing particles of inorganic corona resistant material. The resultant insulation may be used as a tape or wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edward Draper, G. Paul Jones, Robert H. Rehder, Michael Stutt
  • Patent number: 5974924
    Abstract: An internally expanding cutting device is used for severing large cylindraceous objects in two. The device comprises a spider mechanism in which a series of radially extending arms are attached to a central hub. The spider is arranged to be mounted on a base member so that the spider mechanism is free to rotate. A series of self propelled cutting wheels are mounted on the arms of the spider to allow the cutter wheels to contact the interior wall of the cylinder to be cut. The cutting wheels are arranged to drive the spider in a rotational manner while the cutter wheels are progressively pushed outwardly to deepen the cut. Each wheel follows in the track of the previous cutter wheel until the cylinder is severed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc
    Inventors: Edward J. Schartinger, deceased, Terry Hunter
  • Patent number: 5973269
    Abstract: An insulation system for the windings of a dynamoelectric machine is described wherein a bundle of insulated conductors is provided with layers of groundwall insulation. The innermost layer of groundwall insulation has superior corona discharge resistant properties. A second layer of groundwall insulation which has a corona discharge resistance somewhat less than the innermost layer of groundwall is superimposed on the innermost layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edward Draper, Luc Jean Joseph Lafortune, Michael Beapre, Bernard John Moore
  • Patent number: 5939805
    Abstract: A fanless salient pole DEM is provided with annular shrouds fitted to the stator ends in close juxtaposition to the rotor to isolate the rotor from atmospheric pressure during operation of the DEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc
    Inventor: Martin Vanduyn
  • Patent number: 5886443
    Abstract: A rotor for an induction motor of the squirrel cage type wherein the rotor bars are exposed to a resilient anti-sparking compound in the rotor slots of the machine. The rotor bars are provided with a longitudinal slot to permit the insertion of the anti-sparking compound after assembly of the squirrel cage rotor. Alternatively, the laminations may be shaped to produce a longitudinal groove in the rotor bar slot to permit the insertion of the anti-sparking compound in the groove so produced. Of course, both the rotor bar and the rotor slot may both be provided with complimentary slots adjacent one another in which the anti-sparking compound may be injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: James Henry Dymond, Bernard John Moore, Robert Henry Rehder
  • Patent number: 5822845
    Abstract: Stator bars and stator coils (winding elements) for a large dynamoelectric machine which are to be permanently placed in the slots of the magnetic core of the machine are wrapped so as to be surrounded on three sides with an elongated sheet of an elastomeric substance. A stretching device is attached to the two overlapping edges of the elastomeric sheet in such a manner as to be able to stretch the sheet around the winding element and thus reduce the thickness of the elastomer. The winding element surrounded by the stretched layer of the elastomeric substance is placed in a selected stator slot and the stretching device is detached from the elastomeric material. The elastomeric material attempts to regain its former thickness but is confined to the remaining space between the winding element and the sides of the slot. The offal is trimmed from the elastomeric substance and the winding element remains lodged in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Michael Gould, Piero Vittorio Ronca