Patents Represented by Attorney Adam J. Cermak
  • Patent number: 6890587
    Abstract: It is a method of repairing a ceramic coating of an article after use of this article in a high temperature environment disclosed. The ceramic coating is removed locally at spalled areas, at the areas where the ceramic coating is removed locally a mixture including a powder of zirconia stabilized with one or a combination of yttria, calcia, scandia, magnesia, ceria and oxides of the rare earth group, and hydrated metallic halides as a binder is applied and the applied ceramic powder is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Abdus S. Khan, John Fernihough, Maxim Konter
  • Patent number: 6834622
    Abstract: Method for generating steam, in particular ultrapure steam, and steam generator The invention relates to a method and a steam generator for generating steam, in particular ultrapure steam, by reacting a stoichiometric mixture comprising a fuel, in particular hydrogen, and an oxidizing agent, in particular oxygen, and injecting water into the hot reaction gases, which is distinguished by a high purity of the steam generated. The object of providing a method for generating an ultrahigh purity steam is achieved, according to the invention, by two-stage combustion, in that the reaction mixture which is generated in a first combustion and evaporation stage is subjected to catalytic afterburning. A steam generator is distinguished by the fact that a catalytic afterburning chamber (3) with a through-flow body (16) is arranged downstream of the combustion and evaporation chamber (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Timothy Griffin, Andreas Schlegel, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 6836053
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide improved protection for the insulation of the rotor end windings of electrical machines that is suitable in particular for electrical limit-rating machines. This is achieved by the rotor end bell (2) consisting of steel and the retaining ring liner sheet (10), spatially separating the end winding insulation (9) from the rotor end bell (2), consisting of titanium or a titanium alloy. Moreover, a lubricant (11) with a temperature stability of >300° C. is applied between the retaining ring liner sheet (10) and the rotor end bell (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Hermfred Gohn, Claudio Picech, Ralf Rotzinger, Alfred Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6836052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (12) for tensioning a winding (9) of a stator (1), in particular a generator stator (1) of a power plant. The winding (9) includes a winding head (10). Several winding supports (13) are arranged at the front side (4) of the core (2). Each winding support (13) abuts against the front side (4) of the core (2) and via a pressure spring element (19) against the funnel-shaped outer side (14) of the winding head (10). The winding supports (13) are fixed at the winding head (10) in the circumferential direction and in the surface line direction of the winding head (10). The winding supports (13) are movable perpendicularly with respect to the outer side (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Francesco Stallone, Angelo Guarneri
  • Patent number: 6830435
    Abstract: The blades (1, 11, 12, 13, 1n) of a turbine or compressor are fastened into a groove (8) on the rotor (6) or stator of the turbine or compressor by blade roots (4), there being no play or a prestress prevailing between the root plate (3) and/or the blade root (4), and adjacent blades (1, 11, 12, 13, 1n) thereby being supported relative to one another with respect to torsional moments (12) and not or only slightly on the rotor (6) or stator. This is possible, for example, by incorporating a bevel (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Eduard Goetzfried, Helmut Wendler, Heinz May
  • Patent number: 6820409
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas-turbine power plant is described, having a gas-turbine plant (1) in which an oxygen-containing gas is drawn in, compressed and fired and, after passing through a turbine stage, is fed as discharging hot gas (8) to a waste heat boiler (4), from which the cooled exhaust gas (9) is fed to an outlet (10) and then to the free atmosphere. The invention is characterized in that a specific reduction in the flow velocity with which the exhaust gas (9) flows through the outlet (10) is effected in the region of the latter, with a simultaneous pressure increase downstream in the outlet (10), and in that the pressure conditions occurring inside the outlet (10) are transmitted free of losses between the gas turbine (1) and the outlet (10) via a gas-tight flow path of the hot and exhaust gases (8; 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventor: Jost Braun
  • Patent number: 6818034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for separating dirt and debris in flowing media by making use of centrifugal forces, said device comprising a separation chamber (1), and a dirt collection chamber (3) connected with said separation chamber (1) by at least one dirt discharge opening (2). Arranged in the region of dirt discharge opening (2) within dirt collection chamber (3) are one or more flow guide elements (4, 5, 6), which make the backflow of dirt and debris into separation chamber (1) difficult. In the present device the danger of backflow of dirt and debris particles from the dirt collection chamber into the separation chamber is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Gordon Anderson, Joergen Ferber
  • Patent number: 6815012
    Abstract: The process according to the invention discloses production of a high-quality insulation for conductors or conductor bundles. In this process, internal corona-discharge protection, insulation and external corona-discharge protection are all applied to the conductor or conductor bundle in successive steps by means of thermal spraying. The application thickness per spraying run is up to 0.2 mm, thus ensuring that the layer is free of defects and therefore avoiding partial discharges. Moreover, the ability to withstand thermal loads is considerably improved by the use of high-temperature plastics with fillers comprising inorganic materials as coating powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Thomas Baumann, Reinhard Fried
  • Patent number: 6810675
    Abstract: In a method for increasing the power output of a combined-cycle power station, comprising at least one gas turbo group, at least one heat recovery steam generator and at least one steam turbo group, with the gas turbo group comprising at least one compressor, at least one combustion chamber and at least one gas turbine, the heat recovery steam generator having at least one pressure stage and the steam turbo group comprising at least one steam turbine, in which combined-cycle power station air is compressed in a compressor, is then supplied as combustion air to a combustion chamber, the hot gas which is produced there is passed to a gas turbine, and the exhaust gas from the gas turbine is used in a heat recovery steam generator to produce steam for a steam turbo group, an immediate and rapid increase in the power output is achieved, and an additional power output from the combined-cycle power station is maintained in safe operating conditions, in that an supplemental firing is arranged to provide additional he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6780457
    Abstract: The invention discloses a process for producing a high-quality insulation on a conductor or conductor bundle of rotating electrical machines, in which, in successive immersion passes in a fluidized-bed sintering tank, internal corona-discharge protection, insulation and external corona-discharge protection are applied, in each case with layer thicknesses of ≦0.2 mm. The sintering and curing take place at temperatures of approx. 200° C., so that it is possible to use materials which satisfy the demands which are imposed on the insulation of conductors or conductor bundles of this type for rotating electrical machines. Furthermore, the production process, in particular the layer thickness selected for the individual layers, ensures that the individual layers are free of defects, so that it is impossible for there to be any partial discharges, which would otherwise lead to damage to the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Thomas Baumann, Johann Nienburg, Jörg Sopka
  • Patent number: 6769335
    Abstract: A method for cuffing or hard turning the surface of a workpiece comprising using a cutting tool in which a cooling fluid is supplied to the cutting area by means of at least one jet nozzle. The cooling fluid is supplied as a jet with high pressure leaving the jet nozzle with a pressure above 60 bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: SKFSverige AB
    Inventor: Jacek Kaminski
  • Patent number: 6769903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating a burner, which comprises at least one first fuel supply conduit (5) with a first group of fuel outlet openings (6), essentially arranged in the direction of a burner longitudinal axis (3), for a first premix fuel quantity and one or a plurality of second fuel supply conduits (7) with a second group of fuel outlet openings (8), essentially arranged in the direction of the burner longitudinal axis (3), for a second premix fuel quantity, it being possible to admit fuel to the second fuel supply conduits (7) independently of the first fuel supply conduit (5). In the method, both fuel supply conduits (5, 7) are operated with the same fuel. By means of the present method of operating a burner, optimum mixing conditions can be set even in the case of different loads, gas qualities or gas preheat temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Jaan Hellat, Peter Stuber
  • Patent number: 6742985
    Abstract: A thermal turbomachine, an axial flow gas turbine (10) in particular, includes a rotor (16), which at its exit side is supported on a bearing (15), which is situated on a bearing saddle (14) within an annular inner part (11) of an exhaust casing, the bearing saddle (14) being supported on a foundation of the machine by means of a spring support (25). In such a turbomachine, the stiffness of the bearing support is improved or restored by attaching the bearing saddle (14) to the inner part (11) of the exhaust casing by a spring-loaded bolted connection (19, . . . .,22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Kamil Matyscak, Pierre Meylan, Michael Mueller
  • Patent number: 6740292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nickel-base superalloy. The alloy according to the invention is characterized by the following chemical composition (details in % by weight): 7.7-8.3 Cr, 5.0-5.25 Co, 2.0-2.1 Mo, 7.8-8.3 W, 5.8-6.1 Ta, 4.9-5.1 Al, 1.3-1.4 Ti, 0.11-0.15 Si, 0.11-0.15 Hf, 200-750, preferably 200-300 ppm of C, 50-400, preferably 50-100 ppm of B, remainder Ni and production-related impurities. It is distinguished by very good castability and a high resistance to oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Douglas Arrell, Mohamed Nazmy
  • Patent number: 6732910
    Abstract: A device for producing a soldered joint between two joining partners which can be joined via a common contact surface (7), using a solder material which can be introduced between the two joining partners. At least one joining partner (1), in the region of the contact surface (7), provides at least one recess, known as a solder reservoir (3), which faces the contact surface and into which the solder material can be introduced, and the solder reservoir (3) is completely delimited and surrounded by the contact surface (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Bruno Benedetti, Christoph Nagler, Joerg Stengele
  • Patent number: 6720087
    Abstract: The invention describes a temperature-stable protective coating over a metallic substrate surface (1), which coating includes at least one layer of material (4) consisting of MCrAlY, where M represents at least one of the elements selected from the group of materials consisting of Fe, Co and Ni. The invention also describes a production process for this coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Reinhard Fried, Alkan Goecmen, Abdus S. Khan
  • Patent number: 6712581
    Abstract: A process for producing a groove-like recess which is part of a strip seal between two components which enclose a gap, uses a material-removing process technology to create the groove-like recess in the two components in such a manner that the groove-like recess in each of the two components, after orientation with respect to one another, lie substantially opposite one another in an end position in which they enclose the gap between them, and that a strip element can be introduced into the groove-like recesses in such a manner that the strip element at least partially projects into both groove-like recesses and, under the action of a force, forms a substantially gastight joint with the groove-like recesses in the two components. Furthermore, a groove-like recess of this type is part of a strip seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Stefan Florjancic, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6681639
    Abstract: A method of estimating the lifetime of a thermal barrier coating (14), which is applied to the surface of a member subjected to cyclical thermal loads, especially a vane and/or blade of a gas turbine, by means of a bond coat (12) lying in between the coating and the member, leads to more accurate results with simplified calculation by determining, in a first step, the amplitude of the normal stress (&Dgr;&sgr;n) perpendicular to the interface between the bond coat (12) and the thermal barrier coating (14) during cyclical loading, and calculating, in a second step, the number Ni of cycles to failure for every normal stress amplitude (&Dgr;&sgr;n) in accordance with the formula N i ⁢   = C ⁡ ( △σ n σ 0 ) m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
    Inventors: Otto Bernhardi, Roland Muecke, Hans Joachim Schmutzler, Christoph Sommer, Marianne Sommer
  • Patent number: 6675533
    Abstract: Water storage device for use with potted plants is disclosed. This water storage device is a liquid nutrient reservoir usable with a wick regulating element inserted into and extending from the bottom of the planting pot to the storage device for control of liquid nutrient delivery rate. The water storage device accommodates some sizing variance in potted plants and securely holds the potted plant as a coupled modular unit. The water storage device is provided with structure for hanging the coupling. Additional structure is provided for contiguous alignment of a plurality of the water storage devices with secured potted plants as well as structure for elevation of the coupling to prevent moisture damage to a setting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventors: Lynn W. Morlier, Christopher G. Greve, Ronald M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6671346
    Abstract: In a method for the nondestructive quality testing of a thermocouple (10) which can be used in particular at high temperatures and/or under high levels of vibration, which thermocouple (10) comprises at least two wires (13, 14) which run substantially parallel to one another in one plane, are connected to one another at their ends by a welded joint (15), are surrounded by a hermetically sealed sheath (11) and inside the sheath (11) are embedded in insulation (16, 17) comprising a compacted powder, simple and reliable assessment is achieved by the fact that the X-radiation is passed through the thermocouple (10) perpendicular to the plane of the wires (13, 14) and an X-ray image is taken, that the position of the wires (13, 14) in the vicinity of the welded joint (15) is determined from the X-ray image, and that the quality of the thermocouple (10) is established from the position of the wires (13, 14) in the vicinity of the welded joint (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Baumann, Michael Class