Patents by Inventor Benjamin E. Bassford, IV

Benjamin E. Bassford, IV 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).

  • Method and apparatus for turbine engine rotor automatic self balancing
    Patent number: 10337944
    Abstract: An online real time steam or gas turbine engine rotor balancing system is incorporated in a rotor balance plane. A selectively displaceable balancing weight is coupled to the rotor and is selectively displaced by a motor that is coupled to the balancing weight. The motor selectively displaces the balancing weight along a displacement path that is in the balance plane. A turbine engine rotor vibration monitoring system monitors rotor vibration in real-time. A control system is coupled to rotor vibration monitoring system and the motor, for determining in real time a desired balance weight displacement position to counteract the monitored rotor vibration. The controller selectively causes the motor to displace the balancing weight to the desired displacement position. The motor power source is an inductive power source or a permanent magnet generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Edward David Thompson, David R. Tiffany, Benjamin E. Bassford, IV
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TURBINE ENGINE ROTOR AUTOMATIC SELF BALANCING
    Publication number: 20180113047
    Abstract: An online real time steam or gas turbine engine rotor balancing system is incorporated in a rotor balance plane. A selectively displaceable balancing weight is coupled to the rotor and is selectively displaced by a motor that is coupled to the balancing weight. The motor selectively displaces the balancing weight along a displacement path that is in the balance plane. A turbine engine rotor vibration monitoring system monitors rotor vibration in real-time. A control system is coupled to rotor vibration monitoring system and the motor, for determining in real time a desired balance weight displacement position to counteract the monitored rotor vibration. The controller selectively causes the motor to displace the balancing weight to the desired displacement position. The motor power source is an inductive power source or a permanent magnet generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Edward David Thompson, David R. Tiffany, Benjamin E. Bassford, IV
  • Method and apparatus for turbine engine rotor automatic self balancing
    Patent number: 9588007
    Abstract: An online real time steam or gas turbine engine rotor balancing system is incorporated in a rotor balance plane. A selectively displaceable balancing weight is coupled to the rotor and is selectively displaced by a motor that is coupled to the balancing weight. The motor selectively displaces the balancing weight along a displacement path that is in the balance plane. A turbine engine rotor vibration monitoring system monitors rotor vibration in real-time. A control system is coupled to rotor vibration monitoring system and the motor, for determining in real time a desired balance weight displacement position to counteract the monitored rotor vibration. The controller selectively causes the motor to displace the balancing weight to the desired displacement position. The motor power source is an inductive power source or a permanent magnet generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Edward David Thompson, David R. Tiffany, Benjamin E. Bassford, IV
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TURBINE ENGINE ROTOR AUTOMATIC SELF BALANCING
    Publication number: 20150362396
    Abstract: An online real time steam or gas turbine engine rotor balancing system is incorporated in a rotor balance plane. A selectively displaceable balancing weight is coupled to the rotor and is selectively displaced by a motor that is coupled to the balancing weight. The motor selectively displaces the balancing weight along a displacement path that is in the balance plane. A turbine engine rotor vibration monitoring system monitors rotor vibration in real-time. A control system is coupled to rotor vibration monitoring system and the motor, for determining in real time a desired balance weight displacement position to counteract the monitored rotor vibration. The controller selectively causes the motor to displace the balancing weight to the desired displacement position. The motor power source is an inductive power source or a permanent magnet generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Edward David Thompson, David R. Tiffany, Benjamin E. Bassford, IV