Patents by Inventor Daniel James Fitzmorris

Daniel James Fitzmorris 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: 11162591
    Abstract: A seal ring assembly for a rotor shaft includes a seal casing defining a radially inwardly directed channel. The seal ring is disposed in the radially inwardly directed channel of the seal casing. The seal ring is resiliently joined about the shaft to form a seal, and the seal ring comprises an electrically insulating or dissipative material or a non-metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Martin, James Jonathan Grant, Anthony James George, Eric Steven Buskirk, Daniel James Fitzmorris
  • Patent number: 10208862
    Abstract: A seal ring assembly includes a first seal ring axially disposed from a second seal ring. The first seal ring has an axial face opposing an axial face of the second seal ring. A radial oil channel is defined between the two axial faces. Both seal rings have a tapered surface configured to contact a spring. The spring biases the seal rings away from each other via the tapered surface. Both seal rings are disposed in a radially inwardly directed channel. At least one of the seal rings have a plurality of protrusions that extend beyond the axial face. The protrusions are configured to create a passageway to allow oil to flow through the passageway and to allow at least one of the seal rings to move into a desired position by reducing static friction between the axial faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Anthony Salvatore Arrao, Anand Shankar Tanavde, Matthew Robert Martin
  • Publication number: 20170261107
    Abstract: A seal ring assembly for a rotor shaft includes a seal casing defining a radially inwardly directed channel. The seal ring is disposed in the radially inwardly directed channel of the seal casing. The seal ring is resiliently joined about the shaft to form a seal, and the seal ring comprises an electrically insulating or dissipative material or a non-metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Martin, James Jonathan Grant, Anthony James George, Eric Steven Buskirk, Daniel James Fitzmorris
  • Publication number: 20160201804
    Abstract: A seal ring assembly includes a first seal ring axially disposed from a second seal ring. The first seal ring has an axial face opposing an axial face of the second seal ring. A radial oil channel is defined between the two axial faces. Both seal rings have a tapered surface configured to contact a spring. The spring biases the seal rings away from each other via the tapered surface. Both seal rings are disposed in a radially inwardly directed channel. At least one of the seal rings have a plurality of protrusions that extend beyond the axial face. The protrusions are configured to create a passageway to allow oil to flow through the passageway and to allow at least one of the seal rings to move into a desired position by reducing static friction between the axial faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Anthony Salvatore Arrao, Anand Shankar Tanavde, Matthew Robert Martin
  • Patent number: 8838398
    Abstract: A hydrogen cooled generator having a system for diagnosing problems associated with a seal oil system. Included is a shaft having a turbine end and a collector end; a first shaft seal located about the shaft at the turbine end; a second shaft seal located about the shaft at the collector end; a first set of sensors for measuring seal oil pressure differentials across both shaft seals; a second set of sensors for measuring seal oil temperature differentials across both shaft seals; a third sensor for measuring a hydrogen side seal oil flow rate; and a system for analyzing data collected from at least two sensors to diagnose the shaft seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Andritz, James Daniel Antalek, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Abby Marie Magro, Kevin Jon O'Dell, Fotios Raftelis, Steven Paul Scarlata
  • Patent number: 8564237
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes: a casing for surrounding at least a portion of a rotor, and enclosing a volume of a cooling gas thereabout, the casing including a plurality of static seals; an end housing at each end of the casing, each end housing including a seal system through which the rotor extends, wherein a portion of cooling gas escapes from the casing to at least one seal area; and a source of cooling gas fluidly coupled to the casing by a cooling gas regulator. The system may further include: a scavenging system coupled to each end housing for removing a gas mixture therefrom including a portion of escaping cooling gas; a sensor for determining a purity of the cooling gas in the casing; and a static seal leak detector that generates an alarm indicative of a leak in at least one of the plurality of static seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vinodh Kumar Bandaru, Jeffrey James Andritz, James Daniel Antalek, Krishna Swamy Cherukuri, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Nicola Piccirillo, Sudhanshu Rai
  • Patent number: 8344676
    Abstract: Detection of, among other things, seal leakage(s) and/or seal oil contamination for a gas cooled generator are provided. Detectors according to some embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms of early detection of cooling gas, e.g., hydrogen, leakage through leakage sources as well as low purity and high cooling gas consumption problems in a gas cooled generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vinodh Kumar Bandaru, Jeffrey James Andritz, James Daniel Antalek, Krishna Swamy Cherukuri, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Nicola Piccirillo, Sudhanshu Rai
  • Publication number: 20110309780
    Abstract: Detection of, among other things, seal leakage(s) and/or seal oil contamination for a gas cooled generator are provided. Detectors according to some embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms of early detection of cooling gas, e.g., hydrogen, leakage through leakage sources as well as low purity and high cooling gas consumption problems in a gas cooled generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vinodh Kumar Bandaru, Jeffrey James Andritz, James Daniel Antalek, Krishna Swamy Cherukuri, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Nicola Piccirillo, Sudhanshu Rai
  • Publication number: 20110308300
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes: a casing for surrounding at least a portion of a rotor, and enclosing a volume of a cooling gas thereabout, the casing including a plurality of static seals; an end housing at each end of the casing, each end housing including a seal system through which the rotor extends, wherein a portion of cooling gas escapes from the casing to at least one seal area; and a source of cooling gas fluidly coupled to the casing by a cooling gas regulator. The system may further include: a scavenging system coupled to each end housing for removing a gas mixture therefrom including a portion of escaping cooling gas; a sensor for determining a purity of the cooling gas in the casing; and a static seal leak detector that generates an alarm indicative of a leak in at least one of the plurality of static seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vinodh Kumar Bandaru, Jeffrey James Andritz, James Daniel Antalek, Krishna Swamy Cherukuri, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Nicola Piccirillo, Sudhanshu Rai
  • Publication number: 20110231111
    Abstract: A hydrogen cooled generator having a system for diagnosing problems associated with a seal oil system. Included is a shaft having a turbine end and a collector end; a first shaft seal located about the shaft at the turbine end; a second shaft seal located about the shaft at the collector end; a first set of sensors for measuring seal oil pressure differentials across both shaft seals; a second set of sensors for measuring seal oil temperature differentials across both shaft seals; a third sensor for measuring a hydrogen side seal oil flow rate; and a system for analyzing data collected from at least two sensors to diagnose the shaft seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Andritz, James Daniel Antalek, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George, Abby Marie Magro, Kevin Jon O'Dell, Fotios Raftelis, Steven Paul Scarlata
  • Publication number: 20110072640
    Abstract: A method for modifying a sealing system of a hydrogen-cooled generator includes coupling to a sealing device of the generator a contacting seal comprising a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting from an aluminum body with tips of the bristles engaging a rotor of the generator. Another method includes removing a portion of a non-contacting seal, providing a replacement sealing device comprising an aluminum body and a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting therefrom, and replacing the removed portion of the non-contacting seal by coupling the aluminum body to the non-contacting seal such that tips of the bristles contact the rotor. Another method includes removing an original sealing device, providing a replacement sealing device comprising an aluminum body and a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting therefrom, and inserting the replacement sealing device into the generator such that tips of the bristles contact a rotor of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric John Ruggiero, Nitin Bhate, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George
  • Publication number: 20090302543
    Abstract: A hydrogen-cooled generator includes a sealing device disposed between a rotor and a stator. The sealing device is configured for at least partially segregating hydrogen atmosphere on one side of the sealing device and a cavity on an opposite side of the sealing device. The sealing device includes a non-contacting seal and a contacting seal including an aluminum body coupled to the non-contacting seal and a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting from the aluminum body with tips of the bristles engaging the rotor of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric John Ruggiero, Nitin Bhate, Daniel James Fitzmorris, Anthony James George