Patents by Inventor Blake Weldon Wilson

Blake Weldon Wilson 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: 9088189
    Abstract: An electrical machine permanent magnet rotor (and associated method of making) includes a plurality of disc-shaped laminations arranged in a stacked configuration. Each of the laminations has a plurality of magnetic material slots circumferentially spaced around a peripheral portion thereof. A first set of the slots on each lamination has a material bridge between a radial end of the slot and an outer circumferential edge of the lamination. A second set of the slots on each lamination have a radial end that extends to the outer circumferential edge of the lamination and is void of the material bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric S. Buskirk, Blake Weldon Wilson, Curtis Hebert
  • Publication number: 20150192019
    Abstract: A rotor train torsional mode frequency tuning apparatus is provided and includes a rotor train and a coupling element. The rotor train includes first and second shafts and a coupling operably disposed between the first and second shafts and has a torsional mode frequency. The coupling element is disposed at the coupling and is configured to adjust the torsional mode frequency of the rotor train by a change in at least one of inertia and/or torsional stiffness in the rotor train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Alber Mancuso, Alexander Gabriel Beckford, Mary Cecilia Dawson, Rajiv Rajan, Anthony Rigosu, Blake Weldon Wilson
  • Publication number: 20140239766
    Abstract: A system includes a generator. The generator is equipped with a plurality of field coils. A first collector ring is configured to be coupled to an excitation source. A first main lead is configured to direct a current through the plurality of field coils. The first main lead has first and second ends. The first end includes a first gooseneck axially coupled to the plurality of field coils. The second end is configured to axially couple to a first radial terminal of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul August Quail, Blake Weldon Wilson, Cynthia V. Nous
  • Publication number: 20130241339
    Abstract: An electrical machine permanent magnet rotor (and associated method of making) includes a plurality of disc-shaped laminations arranged in a stacked configuration. Each of the laminations has a plurality of magnetic material slots circumferentially spaced around a peripheral portion thereof. A first set of the slots on each lamination has a material bridge between a radial end of the slot and an outer circumferential edge of the lamination. A second set of the slots on each lamination have a radial end that extends to the outer circumferential edge of the lamination and is void of the material bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric S. Buskirk, Blake Weldon Wilson, Curtis Hebert
  • Patent number: 8376708
    Abstract: A drivetrain for a wind turbine includes a gearbox and a generator. The gear box includes a housing and an output shaft that is rotatably coupled within the housing, wherein the gearbox further includes at least one bearing positioned between the housing and the output shaft. The generator includes a stator coupled to the housing such that the stator is positioned radially inward from the housing, and a rotor coupled to the output shaft such that the rotor is positioned radially inward from the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Priyangu C. Patel, Edwin Hidding, Gary R. Barnes, Patrick Lee Jansen, Adam Daniel Minadeo, Stephen B. Johnson, James H. Madge, Blake Weldon Wilson, Eric Steven Buskirk, Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Jacob Johannes Nies
  • Patent number: 8362661
    Abstract: A laminated rotor and stator are provided for a dynamoelectric machine. The rotor includes at least one end flange having a plurality of cooling apertures and at least one rotor inner vent lamination having a plurality of cooling apertures. At least one rotor outer vent lamination has a plurality of cooling apertures in communication with a first plurality of radially oriented ventilating slots. The end flange, rotor inner vent lamination and rotor outer vent lamination are configured together into a rotor lamination stack, and the plurality of cooling apertures form a generally axial cooling passage for a flow of a cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark John DeBlock, Blake Weldon Wilson, Thomas Mancuso, Lakshminarayana Kanakamedala
  • Publication number: 20120086291
    Abstract: A laminated rotor and stator are provided for a dynamoelectric machine. The rotor includes at least one end flange having a plurality of cooling apertures and at least one rotor inner vent lamination having a plurality of cooling apertures. At least one rotor outer vent lamination has a plurality of cooling apertures in communication with a first plurality of radially oriented ventilating slots. The end flange, rotor inner vent lamination and rotor outer vent lamination are configured together into a rotor lamination stack, and the plurality of cooling apertures form a generally axial cooling passage for a flow of a cooling medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Mark John DeBlock, Blake Weldon Wilson, Thomas Mancuso, Lakshminarayana Kanakamedala
  • Patent number: 8051710
    Abstract: A midlength balanced rotor comprises a rotor assembly for rotation about an axis of rotation defining at least one of an axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole; an array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets; and a series of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots. At least one balance weight is positioned within at least one of the axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole, the array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets, or the radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots to balance the rotor assembly. Alternatively, at least one balance correcting mass is removed from at least one of the axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole, the array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets, or the radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots to balance the rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Daniel Van Dam, Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110080068
    Abstract: A laminated generator rotor structure and a related method for repairing a rotor using a laminated rotor structure are disclosed. In an embodiment, the rotor body includes a stack of laminated plates flanked by end flange members, and placed in compression by at least one stud member passing through the laminated stack and secured by at least one fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Nils Dawson, James Michael Fogarty, Blake Weldon Wilson
  • Publication number: 20100329867
    Abstract: A drivetrain for a wind turbine includes a gearbox and a generator. The gear box includes a housing and an output shaft that is rotatably coupled within the housing, wherein the gearbox further includes at least one bearing positioned between the housing and the output shaft. The generator includes a stator coupled to the housing such that the stator is positioned radially outward from the housing, and a rotor coupled to the output shaft such that the rotor is positioned radially inward from the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Priyangu C. Patel, Edwin Hidding, Gary R. Barnes, Patrick Lee Jansen, Adam Daniel Minadeo, Stephen B. Johnson, James H. Madge, Blake Weldon Wilson, Eric Steven Buskirk, Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Jacob Johannes Nies
  • Patent number: 7768173
    Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine includes teeth assembled from a plurality of stacked laminations mounted on a cylindrical protective surface thereby forming a plurality of slots. The stator also includes an armature winding assembled within the teeth by inserting components of the armature winding into the plurality of stator slots from positions external to the teeth in a manner that facilitates mitigating potential for coil distortion. The armature winding includes a plurality of coils that each include an end winding. The stator further includes a segmented yoke inserted around the armature winding in a manner that facilitates mitigating a potential for disturbing the end winding of the coils. Independently assembling the stator components in this manner facilitates varying a thickness and/or the number of heat conducting laminations between the yoke and teeth that subsequently facilitates heat transfer from the armature winding to an outer pressure casing of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson, James Michael Fogarty, Emil Donald Jarczynski, John Russell Yagielski, Konrad Roman Weeber
  • Publication number: 20090309431
    Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine includes teeth assembled from a plurality of stacked laminations mounted on a cylindrical protective surface thereby forming a plurality of slots. The stator also includes an armature winding assembled within the teeth by inserting components of the armature winding into the plurality of stator slots from positions external to the teeth in a manner that facilitates mitigating potential for coil distortion. The armature winding includes a plurality of coils that each include an end winding. The stator further includes a segmented yoke inserted around the armature winding in a manner that facilitates mitigating a potential for disturbing the end winding of the coils. Independently assembling the stator components in this manner facilitates varying a thickness and/or the number of heat conducting laminations between the yoke and teeth that subsequently facilitates heat transfer from the armature winding to an outer pressure casing of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson, James Michael Fogarty, Emil Donald Jarczynski, John Russell Yagielski, Konrad Roman Weeber
  • Patent number: 7579724
    Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine includes teeth assembled from a plurality of stacked laminations mounted on a cylindrical protective surface thereby forming a plurality of slots. The stator also includes an armature winding assembled within the teeth by inserting components of the armature winding into the plurality of stator slots from positions external to the teeth in a manner that facilitates mitigating potential for coil distortion. The armature winding includes a plurality of coils that each include an end winding. The stator further includes a segmented yoke inserted around the armature winding in a manner that facilitates mitigating a potential for disturbing the end winding of the coils. Independently assembling the stator components in this manner facilitates varying a thickness and/or the number of heat conducting laminations between the yoke and teeth that subsequently facilitates heat transfer from the armature winding to an outer pressure casing of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson, James Michael Fogarty, Emil Donald Jarczynski, John Russell Yagielski, Konrad Roman Weeber
  • Publication number: 20090133494
    Abstract: A midlength balanced rotor comprises a rotor assembly for rotation about an axis of rotation defining at least one of an axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole; an array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets; and a series of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots. At least one balance weight is positioned within at least one of the axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole, the array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets, or the radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots to balance the rotor assembly. Alternatively, at least one balance correcting mass is removed from at least one of the axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole, the array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets, or the radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots to balance the rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy Daniel Van Dam, Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson
  • Patent number: 7508101
    Abstract: An electrical machine to facilitate transporting fluids through a pipeline is provided. The machine includes a stator, a rotor magnetically coupled to the stator, and a housing enclosing the rotor and the stator. The housing includes a wall that facilitates channeling a first fluid at a first pressure through a portion of the housing. The machine also includes a stator enclosure defined by at least one wall that facilitates maintaining a second fluid within the stator enclosure. The stator enclosure is positioned within the electric machine housing. The stator enclosure has at least one wall that substantially isolates the second fluid from the first fluid such that only the second fluid is in flow communication with the stator. The stator enclosure has at least one wall that facilitates heat transfer from the second fluid to the first fluid. At least a portion of at least one of the stator enclosure walls is configured to facilitate equalizing the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson, James Michael Fogarty, Emil Donald Jarczynski, William Dwight Gerstler, John Russell Yagielski, Konrad Roman Weeber
  • Publication number: 20070278879
    Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine includes teeth assembled from a plurality of stacked laminations mounted on a cylindrical protective surface thereby forming a plurality of slots. The stator also includes an armature winding assembled within the teeth by inserting components of the armature winding into the plurality of stator slots from positions external to the teeth in a manner that facilitates mitigating potential for coil distortion. The armature winding includes a plurality of coils that each include an end winding. The stator further includes a segmented yoke inserted around the armature winding in a manner that facilitates mitigating a potential for disturbing the end winding of the coils. Independently assembling the stator components in this manner facilitates varying a thickness and/or the number of heat conducting laminations between the yoke and teeth that subsequently facilitates heat transfer from the armature winding to an outer pressure casing of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Blake Weldon Wilson, James Michael Fogarty, Emil Donald Jarczynski, John Russell Yagielski, Konrad Roman Weeber
  • Patent number: 6082740
    Abstract: A seal ring assembly for a generator includes an upper seal casing having a first radially inwardly directed channel for supporting at least one seal segment therein, the upper seal casing having a removable cap forming one side of the inwardly directed channel, and a lower seal casing having a second radially inwardly directed channel for supporting at least another seal segment. The first and second channels and the segments are adapted to be joined about a generator shaft to form a substantially 360.degree. seal, and the upper and lower seal segments in the upper and lower seal casings, respectively, are secured together at an interface therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven William Jones, Luis Alberto Estrada, Blake Weldon Wilson