Patents by Inventor Paul F. Croteau

Paul F. Croteau 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: 8574782
    Abstract: An example fuel cell repeater includes a separator plate and a frame establishing at least a portion of a flow path that is operative to communicate fuel to or from at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate. The flow path has a perimeter and any fuel within the perimeter flow across the at least one fuel cell in a first direction. The separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit positioned outside the flow path perimeter. The conduit is outside of the flow path perimeter and is configured to direct flow in a second, different direction. The conduit is fluidly coupled with the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Yamanis, Justin R. Hawkes, Louis Chiapetta, Jr., Connie E. Bird, Ellen Y. Sun, Paul F. Croteau
  • Patent number: 8511975
    Abstract: A system for supporting a shroud used in an engine has a shroud positioned radially outboard of a rotor, which shroud has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots; a forward support ring for supporting the shroud; the forward support ring having a plurality of spaced apart first tabs on a first side for functioning as anti-rotation devices; the forward support ring having a plurality of spaced apart second tabs on a second side; and the second tabs engaging the slots in the shroud and circumferentially supporting the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Kevin E. Green, Paul F. Croteau
  • Publication number: 20130011248
    Abstract: A shroud for use in a gas turbine engine has a ring with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of slots and each of the protrusions having an arc length and parallel sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul F. Croteau, Kevin E. Green, Jun Shi
  • Publication number: 20130008176
    Abstract: A system for supporting a shroud used in an engine has a shroud positioned radially outboard of a rotor, which shroud has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots; a forward support ring for supporting the shroud; the forward support ring having a plurality of spaced apart first tabs on a first side for functioning as anti-rotation devices; the forward support ring having a plurality of spaced apart second tabs on a second side; and the second tabs engaging the slots in the shroud and circumferentially supporting the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Kevin E. Green, Paul F. Croteau
  • Publication number: 20130004715
    Abstract: A T-joint in fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites is strengthened by the insertion of monofilament fibers in the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David C. Jarmon, Paul F. Croteau
  • Publication number: 20120183394
    Abstract: An example turbomachine shroud assembly includes an annular shroud configured to receive a rotating component. A radially outer surface of the annular shroud establishes positioning slots and relief slots. The positioning slots are configured to receive a support finger that limits radial movement of the annular shroud. The relief slots are different than the positioning slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, Dustin Frame, Tania Bhatia Kashyap, Paul F. Croteau
  • Publication number: 20100248065
    Abstract: An example fuel cell repeater includes a separator plate and a frame establishing at least a portion of a flow path that is operative to communicate fuel to or from at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate. The flow path has a perimeter and any fuel within the perimeter flow across the at least one fuel cell in a first direction. The separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit positioned outside the flow path perimeter. The conduit is outside of the flow path perimeter and is configured to direct flow in a second, different direction. The conduit is fluidly coupled with the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Jean Yamanis, Justin Hawkes, Louis Chiappetta, JR., Connie E. Bird, Ellen Y. Sun, Paul F. Croteau
  • Publication number: 20100209800
    Abstract: An example fuel cell repeater includes a separator plate and a frame establishing at least a portion of a flow path that is operative to communicate fuel to or from at least one fuel cell held by the frame relative to the separator plate. The flow path has a perimeter and any fuel within the perimeter flow across the at least one fuel cell in a first direction. The separator plate, the frame, or both establish at least one conduit positioned outside the flow path perimeter. The conduit is outside of the flow path perimeter and is configured to direct flow in a second, different direction. The conduit is fluidly coupled with the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Jean Yamanis, Justin R. Hawkes, Louis Chiapetta, JR., Connie E. Bird, Ellen Y. Sun, Paul F. Croteau
  • Patent number: 7328624
    Abstract: A probe 10,170 is provided that measures the speed of sound and/or vortical disturbances propagating in a single phase fluid flow and/or multiphase mixture to determine parameters, such as mixture quality, particle size, vapor/mass ratio, liquid/vapor ratio, mass flow rate, enthalpy and volumetric flow rate of the flow in a pipe or unconfined space, for example, using acoustic and/or dynamic pressures. The probe includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a tube 14. For measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the tube 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12 in the tube 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: CIDRA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Douglas H. Loose, Thomas W. Engel, Paul F. Croteau
  • Patent number: 7322251
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided to measure the process flow of a fluid or medium traveling in a pipe. The system and apparatus feature a standoff and piezoelectric-based sensor arrangement having a plurality of standoffs arranged on a pipe and a plurality of sensor bands, each arranged on a respective plurality of standoffs, each having at least one sensor made of piezoelectric material arranged thereon to detect unsteady pressure disturbances in the process flow in the pipe which in turn can be converted to the velocity of and/or speed of sound propagating within the pipe, and a cooling tube arranged in relation to the plurality of standoffs for actively cooling the sensor band; and further comprise a processing module for converting one or more sensor signals into a measurement containing information about the flow of the fluid or medium traveling in the pipe, as well as a pump and heat exchanger for processing the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: CIDRA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Michael A. Davis, James R. Dunphy, Paul F. Croteau, Robert J. Maron
  • Patent number: 7197938
    Abstract: A sensor head characterizes unsteady pressures in a fluid flowing within a pipe, as may be caused by one or both of acoustic waves propagating through the fluid within the pipe and/or pressure disturbances that convect with the fluid flowing in the pipe. The sensor head comprises a rigid support structure and at least one transducer attached to the rigid support structure. The rigid support structure holds the transducer in contact with an outer surface of the pipe. The at least one transducer senses relative movement between the outer surface of the pipe and the support structure and provides a signal indicative of unsteady pressures within the fluid at a corresponding axial position of the pipe in response to the relative movement. The support structure may be attached to each transducer in an array of transducers, and may include a handle secured thereto for manipulating the sensor head into contact with the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Thomas W. Engel, Robert J. Maron, Paul F. Croteau
  • Patent number: 6868737
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying the gain of a fiber optic sensor that non-intrusively senses the strain response of a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a circumferential strain attenuator that has an annular land portion that mechanically couples the attenuator to the pipe. An annular web extends coaxially from the land portion and has a reduced cross sectional area relative to the land, and an annular mandrel portion extends coaxially from the web portion and forms a gap between the pipe and the mandrel. The fiber optic sensor is wound on the circumferential strain attenuator. The web and mandrel cooperate to reduce the strain response of the fiber optic sensor relative to the strain response of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Croteau, Daniel L. Gysling, James M. Diener
  • Publication number: 20040069069
    Abstract: A probe 10,170 is provided that measures the speed of sound and/or vortical disturbances propagating in a single phase fluid flow and/or multiphase mixture to determine parameters, such as mixture quality, particle size, vapor/mass ratio, liquid/vapor ratio, mass flow rate, enthalpy and volumetric flow rate of the flow in a pipe or unconfined space, for example, using acoustic and/or dynamic pressures. The probe includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a tube 14.for measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the tube 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12 in the tube 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Douglas H. Loose, Thomas W. Engel, Paul F. Croteau
  • Publication number: 20030217605
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying the gain of a fiber optic sensor that non-intrusively senses the strain response of a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a circumferential strain attenuator that has a annular land portion that mechanically couples the attenuator to the pipe. An annular web extends coaxially from the land portion and has a reduced cross sectional area relative to the land and an annular mandrel portion extends coaxially from the web portion and forms a gap between the pipe and the mandrel. The fiber optic sensor is wound on the circumferential strain attenuator. The web and mandrel cooperate to reduce the strain response of the fiber optic sensor relative to the strain response of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Paul F. Croteau, Daniel L. Gysling, James M. Diener
  • Patent number: 6550342
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying the gain of a fiber optic sensor that non-intrusively senses the strain response of a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a circumferential strain attenuator that has an annular land portion that mechanically couples the attenuator to the pipe. An annular web extends coaxially from the land portion and has a reduced cross sectional area relative to the land, and an annular mandrel portion extends coaxially from the web portion and forms a gap between the pipe and the mandrel. The fiber optic sensor is wound on the circumferential strain attenuator. The web and mandrel cooperate to reduce the strain response of the fiber optic sensor relative to the strain response of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Croteau, Daniel L. Gysling, James M. Diener
  • Publication number: 20020064330
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying the gain of a fiber optic sensor that non-intrusively senses the strain response of a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a circumferential strain attenuator that has a annular land portion that mechanically couples the attenuator to the pipe. An annular web extends coaxially from the land portion and has a reduced cross sectional area relative to the land and an annular mandrel portion extends coaxially from the web portion and forms a gap between the pipe and the mandrel. The fiber optic sensor is wound on the circumferential strain attenuator. The web and mandrel cooperate to reduce the strain response of the fiber optic sensor relative to the strain response of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Paul F. Croteau, Daniel L. Gysling, James M. Diener