Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Butman, Jr.

Thomas R. Butman, Jr. 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: 6331745
    Abstract: A generator stator includes a magnetic core having a plurality of axially extending radial slots arranged about the periphery thereof with stator windings in each radial slot. At least one adjustable assembly is located in an axially outermost end of each radial slot, arranged to apply radial force to the windings in the radial slot, the adjustable assembly including mating wedge and slide components which interface along stepped matching surfaces which lie at an acute angle to a center axis of the magnetic core. The assembly is adjustable in situ to compensate for decreases in radial pressure with time while stepped contacting surfaces of the wedge and slide prevent axial regression of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Blakelock, Thomas R. Butman, Jr., Alan M. Iversen
  • Patent number: 6218759
    Abstract: A generator core end support ring is applied to a generator core support at each of its opposite ends. The ring has circumferentially spaced, radially outwardly opening recesses for receiving ends of wedge sub-assemblies each comprising an end wedge having a tapered underside, a tapered slide, a ripple spring, and one or more of a filler strip. The opposite end of each wedge sub-assembly is received in a dovetail stator core slot. Upon application of the sub-assembly to the armature windings spanning between the tapered end core laminations and the end core support, the ripple spring is compressed such that the sub-assembly applies a radial outward force to structurally support the armature windings spanning between the stator core end supports and the location where wedge-supporting dovetails in the stator core begin inboard of the core end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Blakelock, Thomas R. Butman, Jr., Alan M. Iversen
  • Patent number: 4584497
    Abstract: A stator of a large generator includes three potential, or "P" bars, disposed in slots atop the armature conductors in three of the stator slots. The "P" bars are part of a self-excitation system for producing DC excitation power for the rotating field of the generator. At least the stator slots containing the "P" bars include a pair of dovetail slots spaced radially closer to the air gap than the dovetail slots in the remaining stator slots used for securing armature conductor bars in stator slots. The inner end of a beam is fitted into the dovetail slot over the "P" bar. A yoke is secured over the outer end of the beam. The yoke is secured to studs in space block extensions positioned adjacent the stator slot containing the "P" bar. A ripple spring between the beam and the "P" bar applies a radial force to securely retain the "P" bar and the armature conductor bars in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Butman, Jr., Nickolas Schmitt, deceased
  • Patent number: 4473765
    Abstract: A grading layer for a slot armor in an electric machine employs a layer of semi-conducting particles of silicon carbide bonded to the face of insulation of the slot armor. A layer of a tough high temperature paper such as an aramid paper separates the silicon carbide from the windings. The voltage gradient at the radially outerward extremity of the windings is capacitively coupled through the aramid paper to the silicon carbide layer wherein span-wise conduction decreases the peak voltage gradient to reduce the likelihood of the formation of corona and flashover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Butman, Jr., Alexander L. Lynn, Kevork A. Torossian
  • Patent number: 4385252
    Abstract: An improved support system for "P" bars is disclosed, wherein the "P" bar is mounted in a stator slot of the stator core of a dynamoelectric machine which has an integral excitation system. The support system includes a number of elements, all of which, in combination, serve to secure the "P" bars in the slots of the stator core and, additionally, provide a low friction interface between the "P" bar and the support system such that the "P" bar is independently suspended and is actually capable of slight movement along its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Butman, Jr., Frank E. Anderson, Jr., James M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4377764
    Abstract: An improved end winding support system for "P" bars is disclosed wherein each "P" bar extends axially from one end of a stator slot of the stator core of a dynamoelectric machine which has an integral excitation system. The support system includes means for affixing each of the "P" bars to stator bars at three different locations in the end winding region and especially in such a manner that the inner section close to the stator core includes a slip plane capable of accommodating relatively small differential thermal expansion displacements in the axial direction between the "P" bar and the stator bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Butman, Jr.