Patents by Inventor Maxwell Pless

Maxwell Pless 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: 11491618
    Abstract: A device to extract a support yoke from a reheat stop valve of a steam turbine is provided. The device includes a hydraulic cylinder for applying a pushing force to the support yoke, an attachment weldment for attaching the hydraulic cylinder to the reheat stop valve casing, and a conical cylinder coupled to the hydraulic cylinder and configured to evenly impart the pushing force to the support yoke from within the reheat stop valve in order to separate the reheat stop valve from the support yoke. A method to extract a support yoke from a reheat stop valve of a steam turbine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Bryan K. Dore
  • Publication number: 20200171633
    Abstract: A device to extract a support yoke from a reheat stop valve of a steam turbine is provided. The device includes a hydraulic cylinder for applying a pushing force to the support yoke, an attaching means for attaching the hydraulic cylinder to the reheat stop valve casing, and a pushing means coupled to the hydraulic cylinder and configured to evenly impart the pushing force to the support yoke from within the reheat stop valve in order to separate the reheat stop valve from the support yoke. A method to extract a support yoke from a reheat stop valve of a steam turbine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Bryan K. Dore
  • Publication number: 20190270174
    Abstract: A device and method to aid in lapping a spherical washer to a steam turbine component are provided. The device includes a drive head, the drive head made up of a drive cap and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from the drive cap. The drive cap abuts a surface of the spherical washer. The cylindrical portion fits within and is concentric to an inner diameter of the spherical washer. The device also includes an expanding gasket including an outer diameter having a contour configured to fit a contour of an inner diameter of the spherical washer and an inner diameter slides onto the cylindrical portion such that the gasket and cylindrical portion are concentric. The drive head attaches to a drive unit which imparts a torque to lap the spherical washer with respect to a steam turbine component. The expanding gasket expands and holds the spherical washer during the lapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Stuart C. Weddle, Richard Sennott
  • Patent number: 10343250
    Abstract: A device and method to aid in lapping a spherical washer to a steam turbine component are provided. The device includes a drive head, the drive head made up of a drive cap and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from the drive cap. The drive cap abuts a surface of the spherical washer. The cylindrical portion fits within and is concentric to an inner diameter of the spherical washer. The device also includes an expanding gasket including an outer diameter having a contour configured to fit a contour of an inner diameter of the spherical washer and an inner diameter slides onto the cylindrical portion such that the gasket and cylindrical portion are concentric. The drive head attaches to a drive unit which imparts a torque to lap the spherical washer with respect to a steam turbine component. The expanding gasket expands and holds the spherical washer during the lapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Stuart C. Weddle, Richard Sennott
  • Patent number: 10151212
    Abstract: A retention device for restraining movement of a clapper arm used in a clapper valve during removal of a clapper valve shaft that extends through the clapper arm. The device includes an adapter plate mounted to a wall of a clapper valve casing wherein the adapter plate includes a hole having an internal thread. The device also includes a retaining element having an outer thread that threadably engages the internal thread. Further, the device includes a retaining end that is formed on an end of the retaining element, wherein the retaining end includes a circumferential contact surface that abuts against the clapper arm to restrain movement of the clapper arm during removal of the clapper valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Maxwell Pless
  • Publication number: 20180243879
    Abstract: A device and method to aid in lapping a spherical washer to a steam turbine component are provided. The device includes a drive head, the drive head made up of a drive cap and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from the drive cap. The drive cap abuts a surface of the spherical washer. The cylindrical portion fits within and is concentric to an inner diameter of the spherical washer. The device also includes an expanding gasket including an outer diameter having a contour configured to fit a contour of an inner diameter of the spherical washer and an inner diameter slides onto the cylindrical portion such that the gasket and cylindrical portion are concentric. The drive head attaches to a drive unit which imparts a torque to lap the spherical washer with respect to a steam turbine component. The expanding gasket expands and holds the spherical washer during the lapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: MAXWELL PLESS, STUART C. WEDDLE, RICHARD SENNOTT
  • Patent number: 10046447
    Abstract: A valve strainer basket of an interceptor-type or control-type steam valve is removed from its nested orientation within a counter bore and valve rim of the valve casing. A strong back beam straddles the casing rim over the strainer basket. It is coupled to the strainer basket, such as by engagement of threaded rods into threaded apertures formed in the strainer basket rim. Biasing cylinders, such pressurized fluid cylinders or screw jacks, are interposed between the casing rim and opposite ends of the strong back beam. When the biasing cylinders are actuated, the strong back beam rises, lifting and separating the strainer rim from its nested engagement with the counter bore of the valve casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Stuart C. Weddle
  • Publication number: 20180126315
    Abstract: A valve strainer basket of an interceptor-type or control-type steam valve is removed from its nested orientation within a counter bore and valve rim of the valve casing. A strong back beam straddles the casing rim over the strainer basket. It is coupled to the strainer basket, such as by engagement of threaded rods into threaded apertures formed in the strainer basket rim. Biasing cylinders, such pressurized fluid cylinders or screw jacks, are interposed between the casing rim and opposite ends of the strong back beam. When the biasing cylinders are actuated, the strong back beam rises, lifting and separating the strainer rim from its nested engagement with the counter bore of the valve casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Stuart C. Weddle
  • Publication number: 20180119565
    Abstract: A retention device for restraining movement of a clapper arm used in a clapper valve during removal of a clapper valve shaft that extends through the clapper arm. The device includes an adapter plate mounted to a wall of a clapper valve casing wherein the adapter plate includes a hole having an internal thread. The device also includes a retaining element having an outer thread that threadably engages the internal thread. Further, the device includes a retaining end that is formed on an end of the retaining element, wherein the retaining end includes a circumferential contact surface that abuts against the clapper arm to restrain movement of the clapper arm during removal of the clapper valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Maxwell Pless