Patents by Inventor Earl H. Brinkman

Earl H. Brinkman 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: 5593273
    Abstract: The reheat tub 10 in a double-flow steam turbine is provided with additional setback from the rotor buckets 16 by forming a three-part reheat tub construction including first and second discrete diaphragm segments 26a and third inner ring segments 28a. The annular arrays of these segments are dimensioned to enable greater axial spacing between the nozzles and buckets. To refurbish an in-service double-flow turbine, the damaged reheat tub is removed and cut along axial and radial part lines to form discrete first and second diaphragm segments. The diaphragm segment nozzles are then refurbished by machining an arcuate hook 46 with a tapered surface 48 on the inner ring portion. The annulus 28 is provided with a complementary hook 50 and tapered surface 52. The diaphragm and annulus segments 26a and 28a are aligned end-to-end and rotated to join the segments along the hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: Earl H. Brinkman
  • Patent number: 5503405
    Abstract: Arcuate seal segments have radially directed seal faces forming part of a labyrinth seal in a turbine. The segments are adjustably spaced from the locating flanges of the groove formed on a stationary part of the turbine housing to compensate for any distortion of the groove through use. In a positive pressure, variable clearance labyrinth seal, side seals are disposed between the locating flanges of the groove and the flanges of the seal segments and have surfaces at circumferentially spaced positions which are adjustable to maintain concentricity of the seal faces of the seal segments, notwithstanding the distortion of eccentricity of the groove and its locating flanges. Where the locating flanges of the segments normally engage the locating flanges of the groove, variable clearances are provided between those flanges by the interposition of dowels, plugs or pads such that the seal faces of the segments are maintained concentric, notwithstanding distortion of the locating fits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: LeRoy D. Jewett, Earl H. Brinkman, Raymond J. Jones, David B. Troischt
  • Patent number: 5411365
    Abstract: In an opposed flow high pressure section, intermediate pressure section steam turbine (10), an annular section divider (142) is located axially between the high pressure section (HP) and the intermediate pressure section (IP), and substantially eliminates conventional inner shell sections. Thus, the turbine has only a single outer shell to which the blades of the turbine stages outside the divider 142 are operatively sealed. The section divider (142) incorporates partial arc steam admission chambers (150); supports a nozzle plate assembly (146); and includes integral steam packing (156) to seal the rotor interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mario A. Mazzola, Thomas J. Farineau, George Schlottner, Earl H. Brinkman
  • Patent number: 5374068
    Abstract: Arcuate seal segments have radially directed seal faces forming part of a labyrinth seal in a turbine. The segments are adjustably spaced from the locating flanges of the groove formed on a stationary part of the turbine housing to compensate for any distortion of the groove through use. In a positive pressure, variable clearance labyrinth seal, side seals are disposed between the locating flanges of the groove and the flanges of the seal segments and have surfaces at circumferentially spaced positions which are adjustable to maintain concentricity of the seal faces of the seal segments, notwithstanding the distortion of eccentricity of the groove and its locating flanges. Where the locating flanges of the segments normally engage the locating flanges of the groove, variable clearances are provided between those flanges by the interposition of dowels, plugs or pads such that the seal faces of the segments are maintained concentric, notwithstanding distortion of the locating fits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: LeRoy D. Jewett, Earl H. Brinkman, Raymond J. Jones, David B. Troischt
  • Patent number: 4702671
    Abstract: An expansion joint for sealing the periphery of a component passing through a bore in a member comprises a component sealing element and a bore sealing element, each having a respectively alignable hole therethrough for defining an opening for receiving the component through the expansion joint. The radial outer surface of the bore sealing element sealingly engages the bore and the radial inner surface of the component sealing member that defines the hole therethrough is radially outwardly relieved over a first portion so that a second portion of the inner surface sealingly contacts the periphery of the component along a line which is everywhere tangent to the component, thereby accommodating skew between the central axis of the component and the central axis of the bore. Lateral surfaces of the component and bore sealing elements are mutually sealingly engaged during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Earl H. Brinkman, Bruce L. Morrison
  • Patent number: 4666369
    Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a joint between two components of a fluid turbine comprises a member having a surface contour conforming to at least a portion of a first mateable surface of one component, a biasing element for urging the member against the first mateable surface and a relieved feature terminating in a second mateable surface of the other component so that portions of the first and second mateable surfaces may sealingly engage. The apparatus may be disposed in the radially inward portion of a turbine shell and the area around the member may be relieved to accommodate unequal circumferential expansion between the radially inner and outer portion of the shell while maintaining sealing engagement between the first and second mateable surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Earl H. Brinkman