Patents by Inventor Ralph D. Brown

Ralph D. Brown 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: 4602411
    Abstract: A rotor disc structure is provided with a sleeve within an axial bore of a disc and mounted through a driving connection on a rotor shaft. Before being mounted on the shaft, the sleeve and bore have been plastically deformed such that the sleeve is subjected to compressive stresses. Plastic deformation is accomplished by inserting a plug, having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the disc and sleeve, into the heated sleeve and heating the assembled disc, sleeve and plug. The sleeve includes an eccentric turn which fits into a corresponding eccentric portion of the disc bore. Keying occurs at the sleeve-rotor interface to remove stress risers in the disc bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Ralph D. Brown
  • Patent number: 4355515
    Abstract: A crossover conduit structure for transmitting steam from a first to a second turbine section having a conduit disposed between an exhaust portion of the first turbine section and an inlet portion of the second turbine section and a moisture removal structure situated downstream from the inlet portion axially along the conduit. The conduit's longitudinal axis is arranged generally perpendicular to the inlet portion's longitudinal axis with the moisture removal structure being disposed axially downstream from the inlet portion in the direction of the steam flow through the crossover conduit. The moisture removal structure includes a tapered transition section having first and second ends which are respectively disposed relatively adjacent and remote from the inlet portion, a pipe attached to the second end of the tapered portion, and an orifice or other means for regulating water and steam flow through the condensate pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Albert Cohen, Ralph D. Brown, William D. Scott