Patents Examined by John W. Redman
  • Patent number: 4208591
    Abstract: A gas turbine power plant is provided with an industrial gas turbine which drives a generator coupled to a power system through a breaker. The turbine-generator plant is operated by a hybrid control system having digital function capability during sequenced startup, synchronizing, load buildup and steady state load, and shutdown operations. The control system also contains monitoring and protective subsystems which function through all stages of operation, with redundancy and permissive features which maximize turbine availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1973
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. Yannone, James J. Shields
  • Patent number: 4208621
    Abstract: A closed control system for controlling the operation of a multiple horsepower brushless direct current motor wherein a current feedback signal representative of the effective motor drive current is constructed from the instantaneous currents flowing in the stator windings. Protective circuitry is provided to shutdown the output power stages in the event of component failures to prevent catastrophic failure of other components in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Electro-Craft Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis R. Hipkins, Marvin L. Schiedermayer
  • Patent number: 4208620
    Abstract: A twin electric motor drive for a grinding mill has substantially identical synchronous motors mechanically connected to the drive of the mill, and the stator winding which generates a revolving magnetic field in each motor comprises a plurality of phase windings each of which is energized from a separate phase of a polyphase power source and has first and second winding sections which are interconnected with the second and first winding sections respectively of the corresponding phase winding of the other motor to equalize the load between the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Siemens-Allis, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Ringland
  • Patent number: 4208590
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating electrical energy is disclosed wherein an annular arrangement of rotor windings is affixed to a number of rotatable blades which radiate outwardly from a central rotatable hub. An annular stationary assembly of stator windings is coaxially positioned adjacent the rotor. Jet engines, mounted at or near the outer terminus of the blades, cause the blades and rotor to rotate about the hub and induce alternating current electrical energy into the stator windings. Some arrangements of the disclosed electrical generating apparatus include a second electrical generator wherein the stator thereof is affixed to a stationary wall that coaxially surrounds the path followed by the rotating blades. A second annular rotor assembly, including wind vanes that are subjected to airflow caused by the jet engines and rotation of the blades, is slidably mounted to the upper end of the stationary wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Inventors: Cecil R. Blomquist, Rodney L. O'Hiser
  • Patent number: 4201924
    Abstract: A combined cycle electric power plant includes two gas turbines, a steam turbine, and a digital control system with an operator analog or manual backup. Each of the gas turbines has an exhaust heat recovery steam generator connected to a common header from which the steam is supplied by one or both of the steam generators for operating the steam turbine. The control system is of the sliding pressure type and maintains a predetermined steam pressure as a function of steam flow according to a predetermined characterization depending on the number of steam generators in service to limit the maximum steam velocity through the steam generators, and reduce the probability of water carryover into the steam turbine. Such control is always maintained by the bypass valve. The turbine control valve responds to the speed/load demand only, except when the bypass valve is closed and the rate of steam generation is insufficient to maintain a predetermined pressure flow relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Robert Uram
  • Patent number: 4201923
    Abstract: A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and steam generators and a digital/analog control system. A gas turbine megawatt load control system is included in the control and it includes a feedforward load control which generates a fuel reference equal to the sum of a megawatt load demand and an idle speed fuel demand. The megawatt load control also includes a feedback load trimmer which provides minor corrective action on the operation of the feedforward load control. Gas turbine and combined cycle plant operation results in the generation of megawatts equal to an input demand value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Terry J. Reed, Jack R. Smith
  • Patent number: 4198572
    Abstract: The invention relates to a regulated apparatus for the generation of electrical energy.A wind generator comprises a propeller having fixed blades and a generator connected by a transmission to the propeller and having sets of main and secondary brushes. The hub of the propeller comprises a rotor of an eddy-current brake whose inductor stator is supplied by a current delivered, starting from a certain speed, by the secondary brushes of the generator which are angularly shifted relative to their neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche (ANVAR)
    Inventor: Michel Kant
  • Patent number: 4195231
    Abstract: A digital computer system provides automatic control for a steam turbine and two gas turbines in a combined cycle electric power plant during startup and load modes of operation. The gas turbine automatic control system provides speed, load and blade path temperature control functions in developing an output fuel control signal for application to each gas turbine fuel valve control. An analog control for each gas turbine selectively provides startup and temperature and load control functions as a backup for the automatic gas turbine control, and further provides gas turbine overspeed, surge and other limit controls continuously. An operator panel functions with the analog and digital controls to provide an operator interface with the plant, and an interface circuit ties the digital and analog controls together for bumpless transfer between manual and automatic modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Terry J. Reed, Jack R. Smith, Roy W. Kiscaden
  • Patent number: 4187436
    Abstract: Device for regulating the source of electric energy on a hybrid electric vehicle comprising at least an electric motor for driving the driving wheels of the vehicle and supplied with current by said source of energy and a generating set comprising a heat engine with which there is associated a current generator supplying current to said source of electric energy. This device comprises a circuit for determining the state of charge of the source of electric energy, a circuit for controlling the excitation winding of the generator of the generating set in accordance with the state of charge of said source, and a logic circuit for operating and stopping the heat engine and controlled by said circuit determining the state of charge of said source of electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Assignee: Automobiles Peugeot
    Inventor: Michel Etienne
  • Patent number: 4186331
    Abstract: An analog signal representation of the ground speed of a prime mover driven vehicle is modified by the vehicle drive train ratio factor to produce an analog signal representation of the theoretical speed of rotation of the prime mover rotating element based upon vehicle ground speed and another analog signal representation of the actual speed of rotation of the prime mover rotating element based upon selected prime mover operating parameters is produced. A variable gain amplifier circuit converts the theoretical speed of rotation analog signal representation into a system output calibrated analog signal representation of the actual speed of rotation of the prime mover rotating element based upon vehicle ground speed by incrementally adjusting the potential level of the theoretical speed of rotation analog signal representation in a direction toward that of the prime mover operating parameter based actual speed of rotation signal representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred P. deBuhr, Bruce R. Meyer, Robert J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4186311
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for concentrating fluid and for providing electrical power. The apparatus comprises an evaporator and a condenser interconnected by a conduit. A heat exchanger thermally couples warm liquid to the fluid in the evaporator. Means are provided for coupling a cool liquid to the condenser, thereby creating a mass flow of vapor from the evaporator to the condenser. A prime mover is interposed in the conduit for converting the mass flow of vapor into mechanical movement. An electrical generator is coupled to the prime mover enabling an electrical control to direct the output of the electrical generator for operating the apparatus and for directing excessive electrical energy produced by the electrical generator for external use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Inventor: Gerald F. Humiston
  • Patent number: 4186312
    Abstract: AC electrical power system comprising an electrical alternator and a primary power source which is alternatively and automatically utilizable with an emergency power source when the primary power source fails, the primary power source being either a wind-driven impeller or a water-driven turbine which are selectively and alternatively utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Inventor: Sidney T. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 4181875
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a DC motor provided with an armature having an armature winding and a plurality of field poles. The field poles are each composed of a main pole excited by a field winding and an auxiliary pole formed with a permanent magnet of the same polarity as the main pole. An armature current is shunted to supply a field current to the field winding connected in series to the armature. The field current remains zero until the armature current reaches a predetermined value, and increases with an increase in the armature current after the latter exceeds the predetermined value. As a result of this, in the region in which the armature current is small, that is, in the high-speed region of the motor, a torque larger than that of a DC series motor is obtained, and in the region in which the armature current is large, that is, in the low-speed region of the motor, a torque larger than that of a permanent magnet type DC motor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Fujitsu Fanuc Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kohzai, Shigeki Kawada, Shigeaki Oyama
  • Patent number: 4177410
    Abstract: Web tension in a creped paper rewinder is controlled at two stations along the web route by respective counter-weighted dancer rolls which also serve as sensors for a drive speed control mechanism. Primary drive speed is under programmed control whereby a first, length percentage of a rewind reel length determines the high speed drive duration whereupon the drive speed is reduced to a lower rate for rewind reel length completion. Rewind reels are self-started on vacuum mandrels which are magazine supplied to the reel starting position. The supply web is longitudinally slit into a multiplicity of strips, each strip being wound about the vacuum mandrel in a reel laterally distinct from adjacent reels but with all reels built upon a common axis mandrel. Tails of the several strips are severed from the web supply by traversing cutter-gluer apparatus which simultaneously spots the end of each cut tail with a portion of adhesive to prevent unreeling following strip reel removal from the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel J. Dowd
  • Patent number: 4176283
    Abstract: In the illustrated embodiment a hollow armature core is rotatably mounted in a water main, and is caused to rotate by water pressure applied against flexible sensing vanes, which are affixed in an axial bore in the armature core. Rotational speed of the armature is determined by the flow rate or pressure of the water in the main, fluctuations in such pressure causing corresponding flexure and angular variation in the vanes, thereby to effect rotation of the armature at a constant speed. The generating unit incorporating the unique rotor becomes an integral part of the existing closed water conveyance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Inventor: Richard H. McLaren
  • Patent number: 4175237
    Abstract: An electric starter for internal combustion engines has a drive pinion unit with gear teeth for engagement with a gear ring of the engine and is driven by an electric motor so as to rotate the engine. The motor has a rotating laminated armature and an armature shaft; the drive pinion unit is mounted on the shaft so as to be freely slidable and rotatable relative thereto, and splined drive means fixed to one end of the laminated armature engage splines on the drive pinion unit whereby to transmit drive to the latter. The drive means may take the form of an internally-splined sleeve co-operating with a tail portion of the drive pinion unit; the splines are preferably helicoidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Inventor: Alfred B. Mazzorana
  • Patent number: 4171491
    Abstract: Electric solar or windpowerplant with flywheel battery in which the electric generator is in the form of a d.c. generator, electrically connected to brushless d.c. motors switched in parallel which can also act as generators and each of which is coupled to a flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventor: Frederik H. Theyse
  • Patent number: 4168439
    Abstract: The following specification discloses an improvement in vertical axis wind machines having upstanding blades. The blades are attached to a rotatable ring which support the blades at an angle of forty five degrees to the horizontal plane of the ring. Associated with the wind machine is a wind velocity sensing device producing electrical signals responsive to the wind velocity. Means is provided the blades attached to the ring to adjust the angle of attack of the blades in response to the magnitude of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Inventor: F. Neto Palma
  • Patent number: RE30229
    Abstract: Modular operating centers for use in electric power generating plants and other industrial and commercial plants, processes and systems are constructed by using a novel prefabricated modular technique. This technique includes loading a plurality of transportable room-size building modules with control system equipment at a factory site. Typically, the control system equipment includes sophisticated and complex electrical and electronics data processing and control equipment. The control system equipment is installed and bolted down in the different building modules and the equipment in each module is inter-wired at the factory site. Temporary inter-module connections are established between the control system equipment in different ones of the building modules and such equipment, as a whole, is then thoroughly tested and adjusted under simulated use conditions. Thereafter, the loaded and tested building modules are separated and separately transported to the industrial or commercial installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Robert L. Ziegelman
    Inventors: Paul A. Berman, Theodore C. Giras, Roy E. Crews, Robert L. Ziegelman
  • Patent number: RE30280
    Abstract: Modular operating centers for use in electric power generating plants and other industrial and commercial plants, processes and systems are constructed by using a novel prefabricated modular technique. This technique includes loading a plurality of transportable room-size building modules with control system equipment at a factory site. Typically, the control system equipment includes sophisticated and complex electrical and electronics data processing and control equipment. The control system equipment is installed and bolted down in the different building modules and the equipment in each module is inter-wired at the factory site. Temporary inter-module connections are established between the control system equipment in different ones of the building modules and such equipment, as a whole, is then thoroughly tested and adjusted under simulated use conditions. Thereafter, the loaded and tested building modules are separated and separately transported to the industrial or commercial installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Paul A. Berman, Theodore C. Giras, Roy E. Crews