Patents by Inventor Alexander R. Nelson
Alexander R. Nelson 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).
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Patent number: 12326172Abstract: A bearing system is provided that includes a stationary structure, a rotating structure, a magnetic-foil bearing and a cooling jacket. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The magnetic-foil bearing radially supports the rotating structure within the stationary structure. The magnetic-foil bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator, a magnetic bearing rotor and a foil bearing. The foil bearing is disposed radially between the magnetic bearing stator and the magnetic bearing rotor. The cooling jacket circumscribes and radially engages the magnetic bearing stator. A cooling circuit is configured to flow cooling fluid within the cooling jacket to cool the magnetic bearing stator.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2023Date of Patent: June 10, 2025Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
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Publication number: 20240352968Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This assembly includes a stationary structure, a rotating structure, a magnetic-foil bearing and a cooling system. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The magnetic-foil bearing radially supports the rotating structure within the stationary structure. The magnetic-foil bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator, a magnetic bearing rotor and a foil bearing. The foil bearing is disposed radially between the magnetic bearing stator and the magnetic bearing rotor. The cooling system includes a cooling circuit configured to deliver cooling air to at least a first bearing component. The first bearing component is configured as or otherwise includes one of the magnetic bearing stator, the magnetic bearing rotor and the foil bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
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Publication number: 20240352966Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided that includes a frame, a magnetic bearing stator and a foil bearing. The frame extends axially along and circumferentially about an axis. The frame includes an inner bore and a plurality of channels arranged circumferentially about the axis. The magnetic bearing stator includes a stator body and a plurality of windings. The stator body circumscribes the frame. The stator body includes a plurality of stator protrusions arranged circumferentially about the axis. Each of the stator protrusions projects radially inward into a respective one of the channels. Each of the windings is wrapped around a respective one of the stator protrusions. The foil bearing is disposed within the inner bore and retained to the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
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Publication number: 20240352889Abstract: A turbine engine is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, a flowpath, a first rotating structure, a second rotating structure and a bearing system. The flowpath extends through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section from an inlet to an exhaust. The combustor section includes a combustor. The first rotating structure includes a first compressor rotor within the compressor section and a first turbine rotor within the turbine section. The second rotating structure includes a second turbine rotor within the turbine section. The first turbine rotor is between the combustor and the second turbine rotor along the flowpath. The bearing system rotatably supports the first rotating structure. The bearing system includes an active magnetic bearing and a foil bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
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Publication number: 20240352967Abstract: A bearing system is provided that includes a stationary structure, a rotating structure, a magnetic-foil bearing and a cooling jacket. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The magnetic-foil bearing radially supports the rotating structure within the stationary structure. The magnetic-foil bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator, a magnetic bearing rotor and a foil bearing. The foil bearing is disposed radially between the magnetic bearing stator and the magnetic bearing rotor. The cooling jacket circumscribes and radially engages the magnetic bearing stator. A cooling circuit is configured to flow cooling fluid within the cooling jacket to cool the magnetic bearing stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
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Publication number: 20240352969Abstract: An assembly is provided that includes a rotating structure, a bearing, a sensor system, a power system and a controller. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The bearing rotatably supports the rotating structure. The bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator and a magnetic bearing rotor mounted with the rotating structure. The sensor system is configured to provide bearing sensor data indicative of a position of the magnetic bearing rotor relative to the magnetic bearing stator. The power system is electrically coupled to the magnetic bearing stator. The controller is configured to signal the power system to power the magnetic bearing stator based on the bearing sensor data. The controller is configured to monitor health of the rotating structure based on the bearing sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
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Patent number: 11025121Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator; an annular end cap, fastened at a first end of the stator; a threaded seat that is mounted at an outward end face of the annular end cap for receiving a first gas foil thrust bearing; a shaft, inserted through the stator, through the annular end cap, and through the threaded seat; a thrust runner mounted at an end of said shaft adjacent the threaded seat; a first gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the threaded seat, adjacent a face of the thrust runner facing the stator; a bearing cap that has a threaded fitting by which it is attached onto the threaded seat; and a second gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the bearing cap adjacent to a face of the thrust runner opposite the first gas foil thrust bearing.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: R&D Dynamics CorporationInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Charles W. Buckley, Giridhari L. Agrawal
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Publication number: 20180269742Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator; an annular end cap, fastened at a first end of the stator; a threaded seat that is mounted at an outward end face of the annular end cap for receiving a first gas foil thrust bearing; a shaft, inserted through the stator, through the annular end cap, and through the threaded seat; a thrust runner mounted at an end of said shaft adjacent the threaded seat; a first gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the threaded seat, adjacent a face of the thrust runner facing the stator; a bearing cap that has a threaded fitting by which it is attached onto the threaded seat; and a second gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the bearing cap adjacent to a face of the thrust runner opposite the first gas foil thrust bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: R&D Dynamics CorporationInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Charles W. Buckley, Giridhari L. Agrawal
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Patent number: 10008898Abstract: An electric motor stator includes an armature surrounding a longitudinal opening for receiving a shaft, with longitudinal fins protruding from an outer surface of said armature; windings are wound within the armature and protruding beyond ends of the armature; and encapsulant seals the windings to the armature, such that the encapsulant serves as an outer housing for the windings.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: R&D Dynamics CorporationInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Charles W. Buckley, Giridhari L. Agrawal
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Patent number: 10008899Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator; an annular end cap, fastened at a first end of the stator; a threaded seat that is mounted at an outward end face of the annular end cap for receiving a first gas foil thrust bearing; a shaft, inserted through the stator, through the annular end cap, and through the threaded seat; a thrust runner mounted at an end of said shaft adjacent the threaded seat; a first gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the threaded seat, adjacent a face of the thrust runner facing the stator; a bearing cap that has a threaded fitting by which it is attached onto the threaded seat; and a second gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the bearing cap adjacent to a face of the thrust runner opposite the first gas foil thrust bearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: R&D Dynamics CorporationInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Charles W. Buckley, Giridhari L. Agrawal
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Publication number: 20160365770Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator; an annular end cap, fastened at a first end of the stator; a threaded seat that is mounted at an outward end face of the annular end cap for receiving a first gas foil thrust bearing; a shaft, inserted through the stator, through the annular end cap, and through the threaded seat; a thrust runner mounted at an end of said shaft adjacent the threaded seat; a first gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the threaded seat, adjacent a face of the thrust runner facing the stator; a bearing cap that has a threaded fitting by which it is attached onto the threaded seat; and a second gas foil thrust bearing that is mounted into the bearing cap adjacent to a face of the thrust runner opposite the first gas foil thrust bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: R&D DYNAMICS CORPORATIONInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Charles W. Buckley, Giridhari L. Agrawal
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Publication number: 20160365767Abstract: An electric motor stator includes an armature surrounding a longitudinal opening for receiving a shaft, with longitudinal fins protruding from an outer surface of said armature; windings are wound within the armature and protruding beyond ends of the armature; and encapsulant seals the windings to the armature, such that the encapsulant serves as an outer housing for the windings.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: R&D Dynamics CorporationInventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Charles W. Buckley, Giridhari L. Agrawal
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Publication number: 20130129488Abstract: A high-speed blower designed to move and circulate dry process gas includes an axial or mixed-flow compressor driven by a brushless permanent magnet synchronous motor utilizing a remotely mounted variable frequency drive. The blower uses foil gas bearings which enable high-speed, low-power loss, and oil-free operation. The blower comprises an outer blower housing and an inner blower housing defining an annular cavity therebetween. A cooling flow of process gas may be leaked through the inner blower housing to cool the internal operational components of the blower, including the motor and the bearings, and to capture heat therefrom, which can be added to the process gas flow moving through the blower. Diffuser vanes and flow-straightening vanes are provided on the outer surface of the inner blower housing to improve the fluid dynamics of the process gas flow through the blower and heat transfer from the inner blower housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2012Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventors: Giridhari L. Agrawal, Charles W. Buckley, Alexander R. Nelson