Patents by Inventor Michael Bernhard Schmitz

Michael Bernhard Schmitz 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: 9689263
    Abstract: A liquid droplet catching device installed in a compressor impeller, the device includes an aperture disposed on a surface of the impeller and configured to receive the liquid droplet, and a channel disposed beneath and in fluid communication with the aperture, wherein in the channel is configured to direct the liquid droplet away from the aperture and out of the compressor impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Ciro Cerretelli, Michael Bernhard Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8845281
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor comprises at least one stage suited to separate a liquid phase and a gas phase with the aid of at least one of a hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic, hydrophilic or super-hydrophilic surface layer, wherein the hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic surface layer is disposed on at least one of an inlet guide vane, impeller, return channel straight hub, or exiting hub bend; and the hydrophilic and/or super-hydrophilic surface is disposed on at least one of the impeller casing, diffuser casing, exiting casing bend, return channel straight hub, exiting hub bend, collection point, or drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ciro Cerretelli, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20130195608
    Abstract: A liquid droplet catching device installed in a compressor impeller, the device includes an aperture disposed on a surface of the impeller and configured to receive the liquid droplet, and a channel disposed beneath and in fluid communication with the aperture, wherein in the channel is configured to direct the liquid droplet away from the aperture and out of the compressor impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Ciro Cerretelli, Michael Bernhard Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20110142607
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor comprises at least one stage suited to separate a liquid phase and a gas phase with the aid of at least one of a hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic, hydrophilic or super-hydrophilic surface layer, wherein the hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic surface layer is disposed on at least one of an inlet guide vane, impeller, return channel straight hub, or exiting hub bend; and the hydrophilic and/or super-hydrophilic surface is disposed on at least one of the impeller casing, diffuser casing, exiting casing bend, return channel straight hub, exiting hub bend, collection point, or drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Cerretelli Ciro, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20100140519
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve plate coupled to the movable device disposed partially within a housing. An electromagnetic actuator includes a first set of permanent magnets provided to the movable device. At least one stator core is disposed proximate to the movable device with a gap between the stator core and the movable device. At least one stator coil is wound to each stator core. A power source is coupled to the at least one stator coil and configured to supply electric current to the at least one stator coil. The opening and closing of the valve plate is controlled by changing direction of electric current flow through the at least one stator coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Mohamed Ahmed Ali
  • Patent number: 7651069
    Abstract: A valve comprises an electromagnetic actuator including a solenoid. The solenoid includes at least one core and an anchor plate. The solenoid further comprises at least one coil disposed within the core and connected to a set of power electronics to supply current to the coils. The actuator further comprises a plunger connected to the anchor plate and at least one spring configured to guide the plunger. The actuator also includes a pressure compensation system. The opening and closing of the valve is controlled by passing current through the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Paolo Battagli, Franco Graziani, Simone Pratesi, Bart Jan Olmi, Francesco Grillo, Rudolf Scheidl, Wolfgang Amrhein, Siegfried Silber, Thomas Feichtner, Bernhard Karl Steiner
  • Publication number: 20100011876
    Abstract: A system for detecting and controlling a slug event in a flow through a pipeline is provided. The system includes multiple sensors configured to indicate one or more parameters of the flow for a slug at multiple locations in the pipeline. The system also includes a controller configured to receive one or more response signals corresponding to at least one of the parameters from the sensors. The system further includes a variable speed drive system electrically coupled to the controller and a compressor pumping fluid in the pipeline such that a ratio of liquid to gas is within an acceptable range, wherein the variable speed drive is configured to receive one or more signals from the controller and further configured to regulate at least one of a translational or a rotational speed or a power of the compressor based upon the signals. The system also includes a display unit coupled to the controller, the display unit configured to output the plurality of signals received from the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Parag Vyas, Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Christian Aalburg
  • Publication number: 20100011875
    Abstract: A system for stabilizing flow in a pipeline is provided. The system includes at least one of an internal supply or an external supply configured to provide fluid into the pipeline such that a ratio of liquid to gas in the flow is within an acceptable range. The system also includes one or more sensors configured to indicate the ratio of liquid to gas in the fluid. The system further includes at least one valve configured to regulate a flow of the fluid from the internal supply or the external supply into the pipeline based upon the ratio indicated by the one or more sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Parag Vyas, Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Christian Aalburg
  • Publication number: 20090324382
    Abstract: A torque-based sensor and control method for detecting varying gas-liquid fractions of a fluid entering a turbomachine that operates a fluid of varying liquid phases and compositions and using information about the actual gas-liquid fraction to set a control algorithm so that it can change the torque and therefore the rotation speed of the turbomachine to operate at safer conditions or conditions with higher efficiency or higher power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Sergio Boris, Ciro Cerretelli, Christof Martin Sihler
  • Publication number: 20090191073
    Abstract: Magnetic pumping systems and methods of pumping using such systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for pumping fluid comprises: a substantially cylinder-shaped pump housing (200); a magnetic piston (210) residing within the pump housing (200) for displacing the fluid; a magnetic actuator (220) surrounding the pump housing (200), wherein the magnetic actuator (220) is configured to move the piston (210) by a magnetic force between the magnetic piston (210) and the magnetic actuator (220); and a magnetic ring (230) surrounding and attached to the magnetic actuator (220) for increasing a magnitude of the magnetic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Johannes Eckstein, Nicola Marcucci, Stefano Meucci, Carlos Jimenez Haertel
  • Patent number: 7516940
    Abstract: A valve comprises an electromagnetic actuator including a solenoid. The solenoid includes at least one core, wherein the core is an “E” shaped core or a “U” shaped core and an anchor plate. The solenoid further comprises at least one coil disposed within the core and connected to a set of power electronics to supply current to the coils. The actuator further comprises a plunger connected to the anchor plate and at least one spring configured to guide the plunger. The opening and closing of the valve is controlled by passing current through the coil and the valve is used in acompressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Paolo Battagli, Francesco Grillo
  • Publication number: 20070295926
    Abstract: A valve comprises an electromagnetic actuator including a solenoid. The solenoid includes at least one core and an anchor plate. The solenoid further comprises at least one coil disposed within the core and connected to a set of power electronics to supply current to the coils. The actuator further comprises a plunger connected to the anchor plate and at least one spring configured to guide the plunger. The actuator also includes a pressure compensation system. The opening and closing of the valve is controlled by passing current through the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: HERBERT KOPECEK, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Paolo Battagli, Franco Graziani, Simone Pratesi, Bart Jan Olmi, Francesco Grillo, Rudolf Scheidl, Wolfgang Amrhein, Siegfried Silber, Thomas Feichtner, Bernhard Karl Steiner
  • Publication number: 20070272890
    Abstract: A valve comprises an electromagnetic actuator including a solenoid. The solenoid includes at least one core, wherein the core is an “E” shaped core or a “U” shaped core and an anchor plate. The solenoid further comprises at least one coil disposed within the core and connected to a set of power electronics to supply current to the coils. The actuator further comprises a plunger connected to the anchor plate and at least one spring configured to guide the plunger. The opening and closing of the valve is controlled by passing current through the coil and the valve is used in acompressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Paolo Battagli, Francesco Grillo