Patents by Inventor Matthew J. McHale

Matthew J. McHale 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).

  • Flow dam design for labyrinth seals to promote rotor stability
    Patent number: 7004475
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing steam swirl in a steam turbine. A plurality of seal segments (14) are circumferentially juxtaposed to form a seal ring (12) encircling the turbine shaft (10), each seal segment (14) supporting a plurality of circumferentially disposed annular seal fins (20) to limit axial steam flow along the shaft (10). A plurality of flow dams (40) are disposed within grooves (42) defined in the plurality of seal fins (20) and seal segments (14) for limiting circumferential steam flow and thereby reducing rotor instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. McHale, Lewis Gray