Patents by Inventor David R. Tiffany

David R. Tiffany 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: 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20170370787
    Abstract: A method to determine a characteristic on a turbine shaft is provided. The method includes disposing a reflective/absorptive target comprising a plurality of markings in a geometric pattern on the component. A light emitting source will then be focused onto a predetermined starting position on the target. The plurality of markings will linearly traverse across the light emitting source from the predetermined starting position. The reflected/absorbed light pulses from the plurality of markings will be detected and recorded. From the timing of the recorded light pulses, the characteristic of the component is determined. The geometric pattern comprises at least two non-parallel lines and a third line including the predetermined position. A system to determine a characteristic on a turbine shaft as well as a method to determine the torsional deflection of a turbine shaft are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Tiffany, Diatzikis V. Evangelos, Benjamin E. Bassford
  • 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
  • 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