Patents by Inventor Bonnie Courtemanche

Bonnie Courtemanche 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).

  • Patent number: 9797599
    Abstract: A flow splitter distributes solid particles flowing in a fluid, such as coal particles flowing in air, through a piping system. The flow splitter includes a divider housing having an inlet configured to connect to an upstream pipe and having an outlet configured to connect to a plurality of downstream pipes, e.g., by way of a divider head. A divider body is mounted within the divider housing. A plurality of divider vanes is included, each extending from the divider body to the divider housing. The divider housing, divider body, and divider vanes are configured and adapted to reduce non-uniformity in particle concentration from the inlet and to supply a substantially equal particle flow from the outlet to each of the downstream pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Babcock Power Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Zarnescu, Bonnie Courtemanche, Jilin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120186501
    Abstract: A flow splitter distributes solid particles flowing in a fluid, such as coal particles flowing in air, through a piping system. The flow splitter includes a divider housing having an inlet configured to connect to an upstream pipe and having an outlet configured to connect to a plurality of downstream pipes, e.g., by way of a divider head. A divider body is mounted within the divider housing. A plurality of divider vanes is included, each extending from the divider body to the divider housing. The divider housing, divider body, and divider vanes are configured and adapted to reduce non-uniformity in particle concentration from the inlet and to supply a substantially equal particle flow from the outlet to each of the downstream pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Babcock Power Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Zarnescu, Bonnie Courtemanche, Jilin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8082860
    Abstract: An orifice plate for improving particle distribution within a coal piping system includes a plate body defining a central orifice therethrough bounded by an inner periphery of the plate body. The plate body is configured and adapted to be affixed between end flanges of adjacent pipes in a coal piping system so as to generally align the central orifice with an internal flow passage through the coal piping system. Flow disruption features are defined in the inner periphery of the plate body. The flow disruption features are configured and adapted to disrupt a flow of air and particles flowing through the central orifice to provide a more uniform distribution of particles downstream of the plate body than upstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Babcock Power Services Inc.
    Inventors: Bonnie Courtemanche, Vlad Zarnescu, Craig A. Penterson
  • Publication number: 20090272303
    Abstract: An orifice plate for improving particle distribution within a coal piping system includes a plate body defining a central orifice therethrough bounded by an inner periphery of the plate body. The plate body is configured and adapted to be affixed between end flanges of adjacent pipes in a coal piping system so as to generally align the central orifice with an internal flow passage through the coal piping system. Flow disruption features are defined in the inner periphery of the plate body. The flow disruption features are configured and adapted to disrupt a flow of air and particles flowing through the central orifice to provide a more uniform distribution of particles downstream of the plate body than upstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Bonnie Courtemanche, Vlad Zarnescu, Craig A. Penterson
  • Publication number: 20020174810
    Abstract: A mixture of pulverized coal and primary air travels axially through a tubular nozzle body having an outlet end in and surrounded by axially flowing concentric streams of secondary and often tertiary air. In the nozzle body, the coal/air mixture flows through a venturi that concentrates the coal in a fuel rich central zone. The coal/air mixture then flows through a spreader that imparts a swirling motion to the mixture and divides the mixture into multiple discrete lobes or streams. At the outlet end of the nozzle body, a flame stabilizer ring produces a separation zone between the coal/air mixture exiting the nozzle body and the surrounding flow of secondary air. The flame stabilizer ring includes an outwardly flared skirt section that spreads the secondary air flow and inwardly directed teeth that extend into the streams of coal/air mixture flowing from the nozzle body outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Craig A. Penterson, Richard J. Dube, Bonnie Courtemanche
  • Patent number: 6474250
    Abstract: A mixture of pulverized coal and primary air travels axially through a tubular nozzle body having an outlet end in and surrounded by axially flowing concentric streams of secondary and often tertiary air. In the nozzle body, the coal/air mixture flows through a venturi that concentrates the coal in a fuel rich central zone. The coal/air mixture then flows through a spreader that imparts a swirling motion to the mixture and divides the mixture into multiple discrete lobes or streams. At the outlet end of the nozzle body, a flame stabilizer ring produces a separation zone between the coal/air mixture exiting the nozzle body and the surrounding flow of secondary air. The flame stabilizer ring includes an outwardly flared skirt section that spreads the secondary air flow and inwardly directed teeth that extend into the streams of coal/air mixture flowing from the nozzle body outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Babcock Borsig Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Penterson, Richard J. Dube, Bonnie Courtemanche