Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Strich

Gregory R. Strich 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: 10668476
    Abstract: Enclosures for vertical pulverizer systems are disclosed. The enclosure may include a vertically oriented cylindrical body forming an internal cavity. The enclosure may also include a cover positioned above the cylindrical body. The cover may have a curved surface. Additionally, the enclosure may include an inlet channel formed through the cover, where the inlet channel may be in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the cylindrical body, and an outlet channel formed through the cover, adjacent the inlet channel. Furthermore, the enclosure may include a base component positioned within the internal cavity of the cylindrical body, opposite the cover, the base component having a curved surface, a journal opening formed through the cylindrical body between the cover and the base component, and a journal opening cover coupled to the cylindrical body. The journal opening cover may cover the journal opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Paul M. Colson, Rory G. Eastman, Robert S. Prairie, Gregory R. Strich
  • Publication number: 20180036739
    Abstract: Enclosures for vertical pulverizer systems are disclosed. The enclosure may include a vertically oriented cylindrical body forming an internal cavity. The enclosure may also include a cover positioned above the cylindrical body. The cover may have a curved surface. Additionally, the enclosure may include an inlet channel formed through the cover, where the inlet channel may be in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the cylindrical body, and an outlet channel formed through the cover, adjacent the inlet channel. Furthermore, the enclosure may include a base component positioned within the internal cavity of the cylindrical body, opposite the cover, the base component having a curved surface, a journal opening formed through the cylindrical body between the cover and the base component, and a journal opening cover coupled to the cylindrical body. The journal opening cover may cover the journal opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Paul M. Colson, Rory G. Eastman, Robert S. Prairie, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 6564727
    Abstract: A method for retrofitting a solid fuel pulverizer and exhauster system includes replacing the bowl drive motor 38 with a new drive motor which is operable to drivingly rotate the bowl 12 at the pre-retrofit speed but which provides relatively more horsepower than the replaced bowl drive motor 38 and replacing the original exhauster fan coupling with a new exhauster fan gear set 46, 48 which effects rotation of the exhauster fan 30 at a relatively higher rotational speed than the pre-retrofit speed. A solid fuel pulverizer and exhauster system of the present invention acting in cooperative association with a fuel-fired steam generating power plant includes an exhauster fan transmission assembly 50, 52 operable to translate the rotation of the drive shaft 54 of the exhauster fan drive motor 44 through ninety (90) degrees to thereby effect rotation of the fan by the exhauster fan drive motor 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom Ltd.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Kmiotek, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 6061908
    Abstract: An energy-efficient grinding roll for employment in a pulverizer operative for effecting the pulverization of solid material therein. The energy-efficient grinding roll includes a body portion formed of a first type of material, an external surface formed of a second type of material, and tread-like means of preestablished dimensions and preestablished spacing provide on the external surface such that the energy-efficient grinding roll is capable of achieving as much as a 15% reduction in the energy required to pulverize solid material when compared with the use of standard grinding rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. DeMarey, James F. Durant, Martin J. Kozlak, Robert S. Prairie, Reed S. C. Rogers, Anthony J. Rooney, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 6024311
    Abstract: A pulverizer shaft rotation support assembly includes a rolling element sub-assembly for rotationally supporting the shaft of a pulverizer of a bowl mill of the type which is operative for pulverizing material such as coal into smaller particles, and includes a separator body having a bore, a rotating shaft supported within the bore, and a grinding table supported on the shaft. The rolling element sub-assembly includes an inner race secured to the shaft at a first shaft location, an outer race and a plurality of cylindrical bearings for rolling movement along and intermediate the inner and outer races. The pulverizer shaft rotational support assembly also includes an annular cutout in a gearbox housing structure for radially limiting the outer race while permitting axial movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Prairie, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 5976224
    Abstract: A method of separating unburned Carbon, as particulate matter, from the flyash produced as a result of the combustion process occurring in a pulverized-coal fired steam generating power plant is disclosed. More particularly the invention separates the flyash into a coarse product group and a fine product group by utilizing the differences in specific gravity between the Carbon particles and remaining flyash as well as utilization of the dynamic classification characteristics of a rotary classifier to effect the separation whereby at least one of the two product groups comprises a relatively low weight percentage of unburned Carbon while yet comprising a relatively high percentage of the total mass of product recovered after separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventors: James F. Durant, Glen D. Jukkola, Michael S. McCartney, Nicole M. Phyfe, Reed S. C. Rogers, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 5875977
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of the bowl mills in a coal-fired steam generating power plant is disclosed; and in particular a method of controlling the operation of such bowl mills such that the furnace of a steam generating power plant can more rapidly respond to abrupt changes in the demands placed upon the output of the furnace due to abrupt changes in the power requirements of an electric power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin J. Kozlak, Reed S. C. Rogers, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 5799592
    Abstract: An exhauster assembly for a solid fuel pulverizer has an exhauster housing defining an inlet opening. A fan rotatably mounts in the exhauster housing and a duct defining an air stream flow path is in fluid connection with the inlet opening. An inlet guide vane assembly is positioned in the duct adjacent the inlet opening. The inlet guide vane assembly has a plurality of first and second guide vanes defining a plurality of the flow channels generally parallel the air stream flow path. The first and second guide vanes are generally planar and arranged generally orthogonally to each other in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Kmiotek, Gregory R. Strich
  • Patent number: 5492279
    Abstract: A pulverizer for crushing coal for use in a combustion process includes a bowl shaped body, a roller dimensioned and configured for contact with at least a portion of the bowl shaped body, apparatus for causing relative movement between the bowl shaped body and the roller; and apparatus for biasing the roller against the bowl shaped body, the apparatus for biasing including a spring assemblyat includes a first spring and a second spring. The apparatus means for biasing including apparatus allowing initial compression of the first spring before the second spring is compressed. In some forms of the invention the first spring and the second spring are coil springs and the first and second springs are compressed simultaneously after initial compression of the first spring. In other forms of the invention the first and second springs are disposed in coaxial relationship with the second spring overlapping an axial part of the first spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory R. Strich