Patents by Inventor James Humphrie Rochford

James Humphrie Rochford 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: 9240681
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus is provided. The superconducting magnet apparatus includes a power source configured to generate a current; a first switch coupled in parallel to the power source; a second switch coupled in series to the power source; a coil coupled in parallel to the first switch and the second switch; and a passive quench protection device coupled to the coil and configured to by-pass the current around the coil and to decouple the coil from the power source when the coil experiences a quench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Renuka Rajput-Ghoshal, James Humphrie Rochford, Probir Kumar Ghoshal
  • Publication number: 20150207365
    Abstract: A system includes a generator unit coupleable to a hydro turbine. The generator unit includes a casing having a first stationary support coupleable to a base disposed within water and a superconducting generator disposed within the casing. The superconducting generator includes an annular armature and an annular field winding including a plurality of superconducting magnets disposed coaxial with the annular armature and separated by a gap. One of the annular armature and the annular field winding is rotatable by the hydro turbine and other of the annular armature and the annular field winding is stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, James Humphrie Rochford, Andrew Allen Rockhill, Ruben Jeevanasan Fair, Renuka Rajput-Ghoshal
  • Publication number: 20140185165
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus is provided. The superconducting magnet apparatus includes a power source configured to generate a current; a first switch coupled in parallel to the power source; a second switch coupled in series to the power source; a coil coupled in parallel to the first switch and the second switch; and a passive quench protection device coupled to the coil and configured to by-pass the current around the coil and to decouple the coil from the power source when the coil experiences a quench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Renuka Rajput-Ghoshal, James Humphrie Rochford, Probir Kumar Ghoshal
  • Patent number: 8471660
    Abstract: A superconducting magnetizer assembly includes a coil pack including an inner coil configured to generate a first magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the inner coil, an outer coil being disposed about the inner coil and configured to generate a second magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the outer coil, a non-conductive end spacer disposed between an end winding of the inner coil and an end winding of the outer coil, and a container to house the inner and outer coils; and a yoke disposed proximate the coil pack being configured to constrain the first and second magnetic fields to reduce the strength of the first field at the end winding of the inner coil, wherein the yoke comprises an annular ring configured to at least partially envelop the coil pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Humphrie Rochford, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Patent number: 8362863
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed towards magnetization of permanent magnets using superconducting magnetizers. For example, in one embodiment, a superconducting magnetizer assembly is provided. The assembly includes a coil pack having an inner coil including a first superconducting magnet material, the coil being configured to generate a first magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the coil, and an outer coil including a second superconducting magnet material, the outer coil being disposed about the inner coil and being configured to generate a second magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the outer coil. The coil pack also includes a container configured to house the inner and the outer coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Humphrie Rochford, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Publication number: 20110221552
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed towards magnetization of permanent magnets using superconducting magnetizers. For example, in one embodiment, a superconducting magnetizer assembly is provided. The assembly includes a coil pack having an inner coil including a first superconducting magnet material, the coil being configured to generate a first magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the coil, and an outer coil including a second superconducting magnet material, the outer coil being disposed about the inner coil and being configured to generate a second magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the outer coil. The coil pack also includes a container configured to house the inner and the outer coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Humphrie Rochford, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, Ernst Wolfgang Stautner