Patents by Inventor Joseph Theodore Tapley

Joseph Theodore Tapley 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: 11268768
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system for a radiator and method for retrofitting an existing radiator with an evaporative cooling system is provided. The cooling system includes at least one spray nozzle configured to be connected to the radiator upstream of a radiator core and configured to distribute a mist of water to the radiator core; a water source configured to hold water for conveyance to the at least one spray nozzle; and a conduit assembly for conveying water from the water source to the at least one spray nozzle. The evaporative cooling system provides a quick and inexpensive solution for cooling radiators in situations where short-term extreme temperature events occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Theodore Tapley, Daniel Edward Sikes, Jay S. Korth, Joshua Jared Shoemaker, Carson Mae Brown, Corbin Abel Anderson
  • Publication number: 20200208928
    Abstract: A cleaning system may be used with a heat exchanger having a core and a fan. The core may include a first core face and an oppositely disposed second core face. The cleaning system may include a plurality of wash nozzles arranged between the first core face and the fan of the heat exchanger. The cleaning system may be used while the heat exchanger is in operation, reducing the downtime of the heat exchanger. A method of retrofitting a heat exchanger with a cleaning system may include arranging a plurality of wash nozzles between the first core face and the fan of the heat exchanger. A method of cleaning a heat exchanger may include arranging a plurality of wash nozzles between the first core face and the fan, supplying a cleaning fluid to the plurality of nozzles, and initiating a cleaning cycle while the heat exchanger is in operation so that the fan assists in moving the cleaning fluid through the core and removing accumulated debris from the second core face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jay S. Korth, Joseph Theodore Tapley, Daniel Edward Sikes, Barry Williams
  • Publication number: 20190323776
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system for a radiator and method for retrofitting an existing radiator with an evaporative cooling system is provided. The cooling system includes at least one spray nozzle configured to be connected to the radiator upstream of a radiator core and configured to distribute a mist of water to the radiator core; a water source configured to hold water for conveyance to the at least one spray nozzle; and a conduit assembly for conveying water from the water source to the at least one spray nozzle. The evaporative cooling system provides a quick and inexpensive solution for cooling radiators in situations where short-term extreme temperature events occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Theodore Tapley, Daniel Edward Sikes, Jay S. Korth, Joshua Jared Shoemaker, Carsen Mae Brown, Corbin Abel Anderson
  • Publication number: 20040265128
    Abstract: A turbine fluid guide member (10) including an airfoil portion (12), a platform portion (14) and fillet (16) joining the airfoil portion to the platform portion. Fillet cooling holes (18a-18f) are positioned in the turbine fluid guide member relative to a pressure side vortex flow (22) so that a cooling fluid flow (20) exiting the hole is directed to form a cooling film (32) over the fillet. The cooling holes may be positioned in the airfoil portion, the platform portion, or any combination thereof, depending on the geometry of the airfoil and resultant vortex flows around the airfoil. A method of cooling a fillet of the turbine fluid guide member may include identifying a vortex flow around the fillet and selectively positioning a hole relative to the vortex flow such that a cooling fluid flow exiting the hole is directed to form a cooling film over the fillet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kenmer Scott, Joseph Theodore Tapley
  • Patent number: 6830432
    Abstract: A turbine fluid guide member (10) including an airfoil portion (12), a platform portion (14) and fillet (16) joining the airfoil portion to the platform portion. Fillet cooling holes (18a-18f) are positioned in the turbine fluid guide member relative to a pressure side vortex flow (22) so that a cooling fluid flow (20) exiting the hole is directed to form a cooling film (32) over the fillet. The cooling holes may be positioned in the airfoil portion, the platform portion, or any combination thereof, depending on the geometry of the airfoil and resultant vortex flows around the airfoil. A method of cooling a fillet of the turbine fluid guide member may include identifying a vortex flow around the fillet and selectively positioning a hole relative to the vortex flow such that a cooling fluid flow exiting the hole is directed to form a cooling film over the fillet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kenmer Scott, Joseph Theodore Tapley
  • Patent number: 6558114
    Abstract: The subcavity between a stator seal assembly and the upstream rotor disc in the interstage disc cavity of a gas turbine is divided into a radially inward region and a radially outward region by an annular baffle that extends from the seal assembly partially across the subcavity toward the rotor disc. The volume of cooling air injected into the interstage disc cavity can be reduced to increase turbine efficiency because the baffle interrupts recirculation in the subcavity to confine ingress of the hot main gas flow to the radially outward region away from the rotor seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Theodore Tapley, John Y. Xia, Zhenhua Xiao