Patents by Inventor Alexander C Smith

Alexander C Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160340051
    Abstract: An electrical network for an aircraft. The aircraft includes at least one variable pitch propulsor. The electrical network includes a wound field synchronous AC electrical generator having a wound rotor driven by an internal combustion engine. The network further includes a voltage regulator configured to regulate output voltage of the electrical generator by regulating rotor winding magnetic field strength, and a synchronous AC drive motor coupled to a respective variable pitch propulsor and provided with power from the output of the electrical generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Huw L. EDWARDS, Alexander C. SMITH, Judith M. APSLEY, Charalampos MANOLOPOULOS
  • Patent number: 9231444
    Abstract: This invention relates to a superconducting electrical machine, comprising: a superconducting winding at least partially surrounded by a magnetic flux guide, wherein the magnetic flux guide includes a binder loaded with a magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8880134
    Abstract: This invention relates to a superconductor device, comprising: a superconductor; a former which supports the superconductor; and, an intermediate electrical connector attached to the former for coupling the superconductor to a power source, wherein the intermediate electrical connector is connected to the superconductor via a deformable portion in the intermediate electrical connector, wherein the deformable portion allows relative movement between the superconductor and former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith, Nigel Schofield, Andrew Oliver
  • Patent number: 8848323
    Abstract: A superconducting fault current limiter comprises a superconducting element having a plurality of superconducting portions and at least one connector. Each superconducting portion has end regions and each connector is connected to the end regions of adjacent superconducting portions to electrically and thermally connect adjacent superconducting portions of the superconducting fault current limiter together. Each connector provides a local reduction in the critical current and quench current of the end regions of the superconducting portions in contact with the at least one connector. This provides a phased transition of the superconducting fault current limiter in relation to the severity of a fault current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8378537
    Abstract: A superconducting electrical machine includes a rotor and a stator. The stator includes a stator having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending teeth and a plurality of superconducting electric coils. Each superconducting electric coil is positioned around a respective one of the teeth. A thermally conducting member surrounds and contacts the stator. A cooler is arranged to cool the thermally conducting member. A vacuum enclosure encloses the thermally conducting member, the stator and the superconducting electric coils and a pump is arranged to evacuate the vacuum enclosure. The superconducting electrical coils include magnesium diboride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M Husband, Alexander C Smith, Stephen Williamson
  • Publication number: 20120148424
    Abstract: A rim driven electrical machine for interaction with a flow of water, comprising: a rotor mounted within a housing, the rotor including at least one circumferential conductor and a central passageway, the central passageway for receiving at least one blade arrangement for rotational interaction with a fluid within the central passageway, and; a stator supported by the housing and arranged circumferentially around the rotor, the stator including windings for providing a travelling electromagnetic wave for interaction with the at least one circumferential electrical conductor of the rotor, wherein the stator extends only partially around the circumference of the rotor so as to have a first end and a second end separated by an arcuate angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul D. HOPEWELL, Alexander C. SMITH, Paul TUOHY
  • Publication number: 20120115732
    Abstract: This invention relates to a superconducting electrical machine, comprising: a superconducting winding at least partially surrounded by a magnetic flux guide, wherein the magnetic flux guide includes a binder loaded with a magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. HUSBAND, Alexander C. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20120115733
    Abstract: This invention relates to a superconductor device, comprising: a superconductor; a former which supports the superconductor; and, an intermediate electrical connector attached to the former for coupling the superconductor to a power source, wherein the intermediate electrical connector is connected to the superconductor via a deformable portion in the intermediate electrical connector, wherein the deformable portion allows relative movement between the superconductor and former.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. HUSBAND, Alexander C. SMITH, Nigel SCHOFIELD, Andrew OLIVER
  • Patent number: 8117861
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for an electrical connector for a superconductor including at least one superconductor arranged in a container and the container is arranged in a vacuum chamber. A cryocooler is thermally connected to the container to cool the container and the contents of the container including the superconductor. The electrical connector extends through the vacuum chamber and the container to the at least one superconductor. The electrical connector has a thermally conducting and electrically insulating arrangement. The thermally conducting and electrically insulating arrangement comprises an electrically insulating member contacting the electrical connector. A thermally conducting member contacts the electrically insulating member and the thermally conducting member is thermally connected to the to cool the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith, Stephen M. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20110061851
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for an electrical connector for a superconductor including at least one superconductor arranged in a container and the container is arranged in a vacuum chamber. A cryocooler is thermally connected to the container to cool the container and the contents of the container including the superconductor. The electrical connector extends through the vacuum chamber and the container to the at least one superconductor. The electrical connector has a thermally conducting and electrically insulating arrangement. The thermally conducting and electrically insulating arrangement comprises an electrically insulating member contacting the electrical connector. A thermally conducting member contacts the electrically insulating member and the thermally conducting member is thermally connected to the to cool the electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith, Stephen M. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20110037336
    Abstract: There is disclosed a homopolar machine comprising a rotor and a stator. The rotor is arranged for rotation within the stator about a central axis and comprises a pair of axially spaced-apart rotor poles formed of magnetic material and which are interconnected by a structure comprising an axially magnetised magnet. The stator comprises a pair of conductor assemblies each of which is substantially annular in form and is provided around a respective rotor pole. The proposed arrangement provides a very simple and robust machine suitable for operation at very high speeds as a generator and which produces a purely is DC output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Alexander C. SMITH, Stephen M. Husband
  • Publication number: 20110026170
    Abstract: A superconducting fault current limiter comprises a superconducting element having a plurality of superconducting portions and at least connector. Each superconducting portion has end regions and each connector is connected to the end regions of adjacent superconducting portions to electrically and thermally connect adjacent superconducting portions of the superconducting fault current limiter together. Each connector provides a local reduction in the critical current and quench current of the end regions of the superconducting portions in contact with the at least one connector. This provides a phased transition of the superconducting fault current limiter in relation to the severity of a fault current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100244596
    Abstract: A superconducting electrical machine comprises a rotor and a stator. The stator comprises a stator having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending teeth and a plurality of superconducting electric coils. Each superconducting electric coil is positioned around a respective one of the teeth. A thermally conducting member surrounds and contacts the stator. A cooler is arranged to cool the thermally conducting member. A vacuum enclosure encloses the thermally conducting member, the stator and the superconducting electric coils and a pump is arranged to evacuate the vacuum enclosure. The superconducting electrical coils comprise magnesium diboride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith, Stephen Williamson
  • Patent number: 7232770
    Abstract: A process which uses a silicone resin to form a wafer-to-carrier bonded package that enables wafer thinning and backside processing while the cured resin exhibits high chemical and thermal resistance. The process is versatile in that the constructed wafer package allows for a wide range of chemical exposures to include dilute acid and base etchants, resist and residue strippers, electroplating chemistries, and also providing use in a range of deposition and etch processes that may exceed 300° C. The process utilizes a mixture of silicone monomers that when applied to semiconductor wafers by a spin-coat application, the result is a planarization of the front side device area, and when a subsequent thin coat is applied will facilitate bonding of the wafer-to-carrier package when heat and pressure are applied. The cured silicone bonded wafer-to-carrier package allows for wafer thinning consistent to industry objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: General Chemical Performance Products LLC
    Inventors: John C. Moore, Alexander C Smith