Patents by Inventor James W. Alford

James W. Alford 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: 5295388
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing remote impact testing for generator stator wedges and ripple springs. An improved low profile carriage is utilized for correlating wedge displacement data with the force required to displace the wedge. A calibrated test stand, in which exemplary wedges are placed under a known loading via a hydraulic load cell, provides means for generating calibration curve sets. From the graphed forcedisplacement curves generated from wedges placed under a known loading, force and displacement data generated during actual stator testing can be analyzed to measure the tightness or looseness of stator wedges, coils and ripple springs. In the preferred embodiment of the low profile carriage of the present invention, a capacitive sensor is used to directly measure the displacement or vibration of stator wedges as a result of being struck by an impact hammer with a known force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Mark W. Fischer, James W. Alford, George F. Dailey, John E. Noll, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5133220
    Abstract: Apparatus for examining an elongated cylindrical body having an axial bore, such a rotor shaft, which apparatus includes an energy transducer which is supported by a drive rod to be advanced within the bore while obtaining readings indicative of the physical condition of the body, a drive unit supporting the rod, and a fixture for supporting the drive unit in order to center the drive rod within the bore, the fixture being supported by the body and including a mechanism for adjusting the fixture in order to establish the desired axial alignment of the drive rod. The fixture is provided with an arrangement for supporting a calibration block which is used for calibration of the apparatus, the arrangement being adjustable relative to the fixture to bring the calibration block into a desired position relative to the transducer when the drive unit is mounted on the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: James W. Alford, Mark W. Fischer, Patricia A. Bosco, Alan A. Marfin, Vincent Berryman, Jr., Paul Guenther, William B. Lutz, Wilbert B. Rethage