Patents by Inventor Michael D. Garmon

Michael D. Garmon 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: 10833568
    Abstract: A generator grounding module selectively mountable to a support bracket and selectively engageable with a rotor includes a plate member movable along a mounting axis to selectively attach the generator grounding module to the support bracket, the plate member movable between a first position and a second position in which the plate member is substantially fixed with respect to the support bracket. A mounting block is movable along the mounting axis with respect to the plate member, a grounding strap is coupled to the mounting block and is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position in which the grounding strap contacts the rotor, and a biasing assembly is connected to the plate member and the mounting block and operable to bias the mounting block along the mounting axis toward the plate member, wherein the plate member is fixedly attached to the support bracket when in the second position and the biasing assembly biases the grounding strap into the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Justin Nathaniel England, Thomas I. Nelson, Kim M. McCreight, Timothy J. Garner
  • Patent number: 10749395
    Abstract: An assembly and a method for preventing an axial migration of a spring in a generator rotor are presented. The assembly includes a step pin radially disposed through an amortisseur and inserted into a spring of the generator rotor. The step pin is arranged axially apart from an adjacent radial vent passage and radially extends through the spring into a slot clearance between the spring and a creepage. The amortisseur includes a counter bore to retain a pin head and a pin shoulder. The spring includes a pin hole for a pin body extending therethrough. Diameters of the counter bore and the pin hole are smaller than diameters of amortisseur radial vent aperture and spring radial vent aperture. The step pin prevents an axial migration of the spring in rotor slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Adam, Mark Roberts, Grant Hennessey, Alan Fortner, Brent Mazingo, Randy Edward Whitener, Michael D. Garmon
  • Publication number: 20200251967
    Abstract: A generator grounding module selectively mountable to a support bracket and selectively engageable with a rotor includes a plate member movable along a mounting axis to selectively attach the generator grounding module to the support bracket, the plate member movable between a first position and a second position in which the plate member is substantially fixed with respect to the support bracket. A mounting block is movable along the mounting axis with respect to the plate member, a grounding strap is coupled to the mounting block and is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position in which the grounding strap contacts the rotor, and a biasing assembly is connected to the plate member and the mounting block and operable to bias the mounting block along the mounting axis toward the plate member, wherein the plate member is fixedly attached to the support bracket when in the second position and the biasing assembly biases the grounding strap into the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Justin Nathaniel England, Thomas I. Nelson, Kim M. McCreight, Timothy J. Garner
  • Publication number: 20190326791
    Abstract: An assembly and a method for preventing an axial migration of a spring in a generator rotor are presented. The assembly includes a step pin radially disposed through an amortisseur and inserted into a spring of the generator rotor. The step pin is arranged axially apart from an adjacent radial vent passage and radially extends through the spring into a slot clearance between the spring and a creepage. The amortisseur includes a counter bore to retain a pin head and a pin shoulder. The spring includes a pin hole for a pin body extending therethrough. Diameters of the counter bore and the pin hole are smaller than diameters of amortisseur radial vent aperture and spring radial vent aperture. The step pin prevents an axial migration of the spring in rotor slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Adam, Mark Roberts, Grant Hennessey, Alan Fortner, Brent Mazingo, Randy Edward Whitener, Michael D. Garmon
  • Patent number: 10396630
    Abstract: A system for cooling windings of generator rotor is presented. The system includes a cooling passage including inlet and outlet radial bores radially extending into rotor shaft extension, inlet and outlet axial bores axially extending within rotor shaft extension, first and second radial bores radially extending from cavities under two retaining rings into rotor shaft extension, and an axial passage through windings from cavity under retaining ring at turbine end side to cavity under retaining ring at excitation end side. A coolant flows through the cooling passage and directly cools windings by traveling through entire windings. The system uses non-explosive fluid as coolant eliminating using hydrogen as coolant and provides sufficient direct cooling of windings of a high power density generator rotor without extensive piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico
  • Patent number: 10277086
    Abstract: Rotor windings for a thermo pump-cooled generator have an internally formed cooling passage having a cooling inlet on a radial underside of the motor end winding portion and a cooling outlet on a radial upper side of the axial portion that is oriented within the generator air gap. The cooling passage in the rotor winding exhausts air from end winding portions that are circumscribed by a generator retaining ring into the generator air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico
  • Patent number: 10224787
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved life large electric generator comprising a rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of stator windings arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a liquid cooling system that circulates a cooling liquid to cool the stator windings wherein the cooling ability of the liquid cooling system is a function of a required generator parameter; and a pressure boundary member that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal pressure of two (2) bar relative to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20180375403
    Abstract: A system for cooling windings of generator rotor is presented. The system includes a cooling passage including inlet and outlet radial bores radially extending into rotor shaft extension, inlet and outlet axial bores axially extending within rotor shaft extension, first and second radial bores radially extending from cavities under two retaining rings into rotor shaft extension, and an axial passage through windings from cavity under retaining ring at turbine end side to cavity under retaining ring at excitation end side. A coolant flows through the cooling passage and directly cools windings by traveling through entire windings. The system uses non-explosive fluid as coolant eliminating using hydrogen as coolant and provides sufficient direct cooling of windings of a high power density generator rotor without extensive piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico
  • Patent number: 10141816
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a large electric generator, the generator having a rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator, a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of stator windings arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator, the method steps including circulating a cooling liquid that cool the stator windings; sensing an output parameter of the generator; comparing via a control system the sensed output parameter of the generator to a predetermined scheme; and sending a control signal to an adjusting device in accordance with the control system comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Patent number: 10141815
    Abstract: A variable pressure electric generator, including a gas cooled rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a pressurizing system that operatively pressurizes the cooling medium to a maximum pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure, wherein the pressurizing system continuously determines the cooling medium pressure based upon operational requirements; and a low pressure frame that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Patent number: 10135320
    Abstract: Described is a large, thin frame gas cooled electric generator for power generation, having a gas cooled rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; a support frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a pressurizing system that variably pressurizes the cooling medium to a maximum pressure of one bar relative to atmospheric pressure; and a pressure boundary member that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal cooling medium pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Patent number: 10044246
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable performance large electric generator, comprising, a rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of stator windings arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a liquid cooling system that circulates a cooling liquid to cool the stator windings wherein the cooling ability of the liquid cooling system is a function of a required generator parameter; a pressurizing system that operatively pressurizes the cooling gas to a maximum pressure of two (2) bar relative to atmospheric pressure, wherein the pressurizing system continuously determines the cooling gas pressure based upon a required generator parameter; and a control system that controls the cooling ability of the liquid cooling system in conjunction with the cooling gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20160211722
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable performance large electric generator, comprising, a rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of stator windings arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a liquid cooling system that circulates a cooling liquid to cool the stator windings wherein the cooling ability of the liquid cooling system is a function of a required generator parameter; a pressurizing system that operatively pressurizes the cooling gas to a maximum pressure of two (2) bar relative to atmospheric pressure, wherein the pressurizing system continuously determines the cooling gas pressure based upon a required generator parameter; and a control system that controls the cooling ability of the liquid cooling system in conjunction with the cooling gas pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20160211721
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved life large electric generator comprising a rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of stator windings arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a liquid cooling system that circulates a cooling liquid to cool the stator windings wherein the cooling ability of the liquid cooling system is a function of a required generator parameter; and a pressure boundary member that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal pressure of two (2) bar relative to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20160211726
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a large electric generator, the generator having a rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator, a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of stator windings arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator, the method steps including circulating a cooling liquid that cool the stator windings; sensing an output parameter of the generator; comparing via a control system the sensed output parameter of the generator to a predetermined scheme; and sending a control signal to an adjusting device in accordance with the control system comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20160211725
    Abstract: A variable pressure electric generator, including a gas cooled rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; a stator frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a pressurizing system that operatively pressurizes the cooling medium to a maximum pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure, wherein the pressurizing system continuously determines the cooling medium pressure based upon operational requirements; and a low pressure frame that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20160211724
    Abstract: Described is a large, thin frame gas cooled electric generator for power generation, having a gas cooled rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; a support frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a pressurizing system that variably pressurizes the cooling medium to a maximum pressure of one bar relative to atmospheric pressure; and a pressure boundary member that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal cooling medium pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico, Bobby A. Warren
  • Publication number: 20160149452
    Abstract: Rotor windings for a thermo pump-cooled generator have an internally formed cooling passage having a cooling inlet on a radial underside of the motor end winding portion and a cooling outlet on a radial upper side of the axial portion that is oriented within the generator air gap. The cooling passage in the rotor winding exhausts air from end winding portions that are circumscribed by a generator retaining ring into the generator air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Garmon, Raul Ricardo Rico