Patents Assigned to Alsthom
  • Method of manufacturing a claw magneto-electric rotor
    Patent number: 5884389
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a claw-type magneto-electric rotor. The claw type rotor comprising magnetic material parts forming the poles of the rotor and amagnetic material parts separating the poles of opposite polarity confined in a hollow cylindrical casing in the shape of a body of revolution, wherein the casing is made from an amagnetic material. The method includes a step of filling the hollow cylinder with the magnetic material parts and amagnetic material parts and a step of isostatic compression of the combination of these parts and the hollow casing cylinder. Each magnetic or amagnetic material part is made from a plurality of nested, independent, matched and coaxial tube elements each having lateral edges, transverse ends and a lateral face having the exterior shape of the corresponding radial thickness of the magnetic or amagnetic material part concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Moteurs SA
    Inventors: Alain Gueraud, Jean-Charles Mercier
  • Optical vibration sensor
    Patent number: 5886265
    Abstract: An optical vibration sensor includes a built-in blade provided with a system for reflecting light, a system for directing light onto the reflecting system, system for collecting the light reflected by the reflecting system and a system for analyzing the intensity and/or the frequency and/or the phase of the reflected light. The blade forms an integral part of an appropriately cut block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D Balteau
    Inventor: Denis Chatrefou
  • Drawer for automatically pluggable and unpluggable electronic cards, a drawer and a bay therefor, and a method of removing electronic cards
    Patent number: 5885089
    Abstract: A drawer for electronic cards, the electronic cards being connected to a mother board by card connectors, and the electronic cards being connected to output connectors, wherein the drawer is automatically pluggable and unpluggable and wherein the following are disposed successively from the back to the front of the drawer:The output connectors being disposed inside a drawer support and secured a back face of the drawer support;The electronic cards being disposed between the output connectors in back and the card connectors in front; andthe mother board disposed close to the front face of the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventor: Christian Ruque
  • Band-pass filter in an optical waveguide
    Patent number: 5887094
    Abstract: A band-pass filter written into an optical waveguide includes at least one Bragg grating creating coupling between two propagation modes. In one version the pitch of the grating is equal to the length of beating of these two modes, to create codirectional coupling for the LP01 and LP0i modes. In another version the grating couples the LP01 mode to any contradirectional radiation mode. The filter includes, at one point at least of the grating, an area in which one half-period of the grating is omitted to create a phase-shift of .pi. between the two coupled modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Fatima Bakhti, Isabelle Riant, Pierre Sansonetti
  • Quadrature modulator malfunction estimator and modulator stage using it
    Patent number: 5883551
    Abstract: A quadrature modulator including two mixers to which two carrier signals are applied and to each of which a modulating signal is applied, output signals of the mixers being applied to a combiner to constitute a modulated signal. A defect estimator for the modulator detects a first signal representative of the instantaneous power of the modulated signal, generates a second signal representative of a reference envelope obtained from the modulating signals, and corrects the amplitude of one of the first and second signals in accordance with the mean amplitude difference observed between this amplitude corrected signal and the other signal. A processor supplies from the observed amplitude difference between the amplitude corrected signal and the other signal, at least one signal relating to the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventors: Rossano Marchesani, Jean-Xavier Canonici
  • Device with power semiconductor components
    Patent number: 5883431
    Abstract: A device with power semiconductor components includes, in combination: a stack alternately comprising at least one power semiconductor component and at least one heatsink to dissipate heat and to provide an electrical connection, at least a first system for clamping the power semiconductor components, at least a second system for clamping components protecting the power semiconductor components, at least one spacer for insulating the semiconductor components from the framework of the various modules and at least one conductive block replacing heatsinks that are rendered unnecessary by the arrangement chosen for the inverter and auxiliary chopper functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Gec Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Dubelloy, Serge Donnet, Bernard Compagnet, Gerard Scali
  • Soft switching power converter comprising means for correcting the median voltage of a capacitive voltage divider
    Patent number: 5880949
    Abstract: A power converter comprises two main switches connecting an output either to the positive rail or to the negative rail. Two freewheel diodes for maintaining the current in the load, two snubbers and an auxiliary circuit including an auxiliary inductor in series with two auxiliary switches connected between the output and a mid-point of a capacitive voltage divider supplying a median voltage. Any error of the median voltage relative to its nominal value is evaluated and the main switches are additionally commanded, depending on the direction of the error, for a time period dependent on the amplitude of the error, in order to cause an additional current in the auxiliary circuit to correct the error at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventors: Wissam Melhem, Khaled Elloumi, Stephane Cazabat, Christian Delay, Herve Pouliquen
  • High-tension circuit-breaker with damper
    Patent number: 5877465
    Abstract: A high-tension circuit-breaker includes fixed contacts and a mobile assembly including mobile contacts. The mobile assembly is connected to an operating mechanism by an operating rod. The circuit-breaker includes a device for damping movement of the rod at the end of a tripping maneuver. This device includes a damper piston entrained by movement of the rod at the end of the tripping maneuver and moving in a cylinder in one direction such that the volume between the piston and an end wall of the cylinder increases during the maneuver, causing a pressure drop in this volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventor: Michel Perret
  • Method of manufacturing a multifilament superconductor with resistive barrier integrated into the outer ring
    Patent number: 5873158
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of making a superconductor so that it includes, in cross-section: a central area, made up of a plurality of superconductor filaments of the NbTi, NbTiTa type or of any other alloy or substance based on Nb; a concentric, two part, outer ring surrounding the central area; and a concentric resistive barrier. In accordance with the invention, the concentric resistive barrier is integrated into the concentric outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Gec Alsthom Electromecanique SA
    Inventors: Philippe Sulten, Christian Eric Bruzek, Giaky Hoang
  • Ball mill
    Patent number: 5873532
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball mill having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and including a drum supported by two trunions having the same axis of rotation and situated at respective ends of the drum, raw coal being conveyed by substantially vertical pipework to the vicinity of a cylinder having the same axis of rotation and disposed within each trunion so as to open out into the drum, with the space lying between each trunion and its cylinder being connected to a pulverized coal outlet duct via a separator. A raw coal guide member is disposed beneath the pipework, conveying coal under gravity into the inside of the cylinder which includes a rigid Archimedes' screw on its inside surface, a main air feed being provided on said pipework upstream from the separator, all of said air being channeled towards the inside of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: GEC ALSTHOM Stein Industrie
    Inventor: Daniel Fontanille
  • Method and modem for adaptive allocation of the pilot carrier in a multi-carrier system
    Patent number: 5867528
    Abstract: In a multi-carrier system, the pilot carrier which is transmitted between two stations for synchronisation purposes, is re-allocated to a new frequency whenever it is disturbed by noise or a single frequency disturber in the vicinity thereof. A less noisy frequency is selected by means of a specific criterion to be fulfilled, for instance based on signal to noise ratio measurements performed for all carriers in the multi-carrier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventor: Herman Leo Rosalia Verbueken
  • AC/DC power converter device
    Patent number: 5867378
    Abstract: AC/DC power converter device comprising a full-wave rectifier (R) the output of which is applied to a direct current module which has two outputs: the main output is connected to the load via a capacitor (C1) which transfers a first power level (P1), and the auxiliary output is formed by a capacitor (C2) and a direct current converter (DC) which stores a second power (P2) and transfers it to the load during the full cycle of the input power wave (PE). As a result the second power level (P2) is continuously topping up the first power level (P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom
    Inventors: Oscar Garcia Suarez, Jose Antonio Cobos Marquez, Javier Uceda Antolin, Salvador Ollero Velasco, Enrique De La Cruz Moreno
  • Cooling arrangements for rotating electrical machines
    Patent number: 5866959
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine has openings (105) in its stator teeth (101) occupying a substantial part of the surface area of each tooth so that the stator windings (103) have only a short thermal path to axial cooling ducts created by the openings. In another embodiment, each rotor tooth (109) is provided with a recess (110) at one corner of the tooth to form a recess axial cooling duct; the recess may be of such a depth as to expose part of an adjacent slot (118) to the recess duct. Cooling is by air, either in a single-ended or a double-ended axial ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Limited
    Inventor: Graham Le Flem
  • Semi-active damper with continuous force control
    Patent number: 5862894
    Abstract: A semi-active damper is controlled by a control circuit which includes a direct main feedback loop, as well as a secondary force feedback loop. The direct main feedback loop includes an inverse model of the damper to be controlled. In the inverse model, an equivalent speed y.sub.e is determined, for use in controlling the damper, based on the measured relative speed y of the ends of the damper. The equivalent speed y.sub.e is used for the purpose of compensating for the fact that a hydraulic fluid used in the damper is not an absolutely incompressible fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventors: Philippe Boichot, Regis Kirat
  • Method of extracting contours using a combined active contour and starter/guide approach
    Patent number: 5862245
    Abstract: A semi-automatic method of extracting a contour in a digital image using a combined active contour and starter/guide approach is based on an iterative process of deforming an active contour to obtain a current trace and extending the current trace by a straight line segment. An initial contour is entered into the image to seed the iterative process. Local analysis of the digital image at a point of the initial contour determines a first reference datum. At each iteration this analysis is carried out locally at a plurality of points around the end point of the current trace to determine, by correlation with the first datum, the orientation of the straight line segment extending the current trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventors: Frederic Renouard, Jamal Rezzouk
  • Fiber optic cable without reinforcing members
    Patent number: 5862284
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of packages each made up of a plurality of optical fiber ribbons. The packages are arranged in a tight structure incorporated in a polymer resin so that the packages themselves constitute reinforcements that impart strength to the cable and prevent curvature of the optical fibers due to variations in temperature. This eliminates the need to incorporate any central and/or peripheral reinforcing member into the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Jorgen Paborn, Peter Elisson
  • Monolithic integrated optical semiconductor component
    Patent number: 5862168
    Abstract: Monolithic integrated optical semiconductor components with a buried ridge stripe waveguide (BRS) are used for optical communications. They contain active (AB) and passive (PB) waveguide regions. High absorption losses occur in passive waveguide regions with a buried ridge stripe waveguide, while passive waveguide regions with low-loss rib waveguides have reflections and leakage losses in the junction with the active waveguide regions. A semiconductor component (BE2) according to the invention has a buried ridge stripe waveguide (BRS) in active (AB) as well as passive (PB) waveguide regions, which is covered by a cap layer (DS). In addition the passive regions (PB) have a semi-insulating or undoped cladding layer (MS) between the ridge stripe waveguide (BRS) and the cap layer (DS). A process is furthermore indicated whereby a semiconductor component according to the invention can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom
    Inventors: Michael Schilling, Gert Laube
  • Low noise amplifier structure
    Patent number: 5861778
    Abstract: A low noise amplifier structure based on a Differential Difference Amplifier (DDA1) having a differential output (outp, outn) and two differential pairs of input terminals (N1, P1; N2, P2). The input signal (V.sub.IN) is applied to terminals (N2, P1) which belong to different differential pairs. In this way, none of the differential pairs receives a high input signal, and hence none of them cause unacceptable harmonic distortion. The dynamic input range is thus high. The gain of the structure is determined by a resistive circuit (R2a, R2a'; R2b, R2b') coupled to the remaining terminals (N1, P2) of the differential pairs. The common mode of these remaining terminals (N1, P2) is, independently from the output common mode, biased at the input common mode via a common mode feedback circuit (DDA2; GL1, GH1, GH3, R2a, R2a'; GL2, GH2, GH4, R2b, R2b') based on a second differential difference amplifier (DDA2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Filip Marcel Louagie, Jean-Philippe Robert Cornil
  • Circuit breaker having semi-moving piston
    Patent number: 5859399
    Abstract: A puffer type circuit breaker comprising a compression chamber closed by a pressure wall of a semi-moving piston, a first mechanism for preventing the piston from moving during a first portion of the opening displacement of the moving contact assembly, and a second mechanism for axially displacing the piston together with the moving contact assembly during the second portion of the same displacement. The piston includes a cylindrical guide portion secured to the wall. The first mechanism comprises an abutment member disposed between the end of the guide portion of the piston and a fixed retaining part, said abutment member being retractable. The second mechanism comprises an arrangement for retracting the abutment member, and acting at the end of the first displacement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventor: Michel Perret
  • Superconductive electrical transmission line
    Patent number: 5859386
    Abstract: An electrical transmission line for conveying and limiting current by using a plurality of tubular portions made from a superconductive material. The tubular portions have a high critical temperature and are connected end-to-end by flexible, electrically conductive metal or alloy joints. A cryogenic fluid flows inside a first tube within the tubular portions. A vacuum is maintained inside a second tube around the tubular portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Peter Friedrich Herrmann, Pierre Mirebeau, Thierry Verhaege