Patents by Inventor Richard E. Kothmann
Richard E. Kothmann 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).
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Patent number: 7855004Abstract: In one embodiment the present comprises an air inlet 2, a series of fuel cells 6, a new fuel inlet 14, a fuel distributor 16, a recirculation plenum 19, and an exhaust 12. Fresh fuel from the fuel distributor 16 enters the fuel cell stack in a middle-third section of the fuel cell stack, and the fresh fuel is divided into an exhaust fuel 12 flow and a recirculation fuel flow 18. The exhaust fuel flow passes along a first portion of the series of fuel cells to the exhaust, and the recirculation fuel flow passes along a second portion of the series of fuel cells to the recirculation plenum and mixes with new fuel from the new fuel inlet in the fuel distributor. The recirculation plenum is located at an opposite end of the fuel cell stack from the exhaust, and the fuel-cell stack is of a seal-less design.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Arun K. S Iyengar, Raymond A George, Richard E Kothmann
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Patent number: 6610434Abstract: A fuel cell generator contains a plurality of fuel cells (6) in a generator chamber (1) and also contains a depleted fuel reactor or a fuel depletion chamber (2) where oxidant (24,25) and fuel (81) is fed to the generator chamber (1) and the depleted fuel reactor chamber (2), where both fuel and oxidant react, and where all oxidant and fuel passages are separate and do not communicate with each other, so that fuel and oxidant in whatever form do not mix and where a depleted fuel exit (23) is provided for exiting a product gas (19) which consists essentially of carbon dioxide and water for further treatment so that carbon dioxide can be separated and is not vented to the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power CorporationInventors: Robert Draper, Stephen E. Veyo, Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 5322417Abstract: An electromagnetic pumping assembly (10) for liquid metal is made, which contains an immersible pump section (16) where electromagnetic windings (22) are disposed in the pump section, and an eddy current blocking structure (25) is disposed within the electromagnetic winding (22), providing liquid flow orifices unoccupied by the structure between the eddy current blocking structure and the winding, where there is at least one axial bore (27) through the eddy current blocking structure (25).Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1992Date of Patent: June 21, 1994Assignee: Westinghouse Electric CorporationInventors: Brian D. Ottinger, Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 5296829Abstract: A core-form transformer winding with liquid coolant flow diversion bands is disclosed. The apparatus includes a winding tube with a central longitudinal axis. A number of coil sections are axially displaced along the central longitudinal axis of the winding tube. Radial ducts are formed between the coil sections. Internal vertical ducts are formed within each of the coil sections. A liquid coolant is used to cool the windings during operation. Flow diversion bands are placed around every other coil section. The flow diversion bands generate a partial blockage of the liquid coolant, which produces a radial flow into one or more of the radial ducts, resulting in vertical flow through the internal vertical ducts.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1992Date of Patent: March 22, 1994Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Richard E. Kothmann, Donald K. Whirlow
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Patent number: 5094702Abstract: A process for controlling the heating of a thin-walled body according to a predetermined temperature program by means of electrically controllable heaters, comprising: disposing the heaters adjacent one surface of the body such that each heater is in facing relation with a respective zone of the surface;supplying heat-generating power to each heater and monitoring the temperature at each surface zone; and for each zone:deriving (16,18,20), on the basis of the temperature values obtained in the monitoring step, estimated temperature values of the surface at successive time intervals each having a first selected duration;generating (28), on the basis of the estimated temperature values derived in each time interval, representations of the temperature, THSIFUT, which each surface zone will have, based on the level of power presently supplied to each heater, at a future time which is separated from the present time interval by a second selected duration;determining (30) the difference between THSIFUT and the desiType: GrantFiled: June 19, 1989Date of Patent: March 10, 1992Assignee: U.S. Dept. of EnergyInventors: Richard E. Kothmann, Russell R. Booth, Jr., Noel P. Grimm, Abram Batenburg, Vaughn M. Thomas
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Patent number: 5061083Abstract: A temperature monitoring device for measuring the temperature at a surface of a body, composed of: at least one first thermocouple and a second thermocouple; support members supporting the thermocouples for placing the first thermocouple in contact with the body surface and for maintaining the second thermocouple at a defined spacing from the body surface; and a calculating circuit connected to the thermocouples for receiving individual signals each representative of the temperature reading produced by a respective one of the first and second thermocouples and for producing a corrected temperature signal having a value which represents the temperature of the body surface and is a function of the difference between the temperature reading produced by the first thermocouple and a selected fraction of the temperature reading provided by the second thermocouple.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1989Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of EnergyInventors: Noel P. Grimm, Frank I. Bauer, Thomas G. Bengel, Richard E. Kothmann, Robert S. Mavretish, Phillip E. Miller, Raymond J. Nath, Robert B. Salton
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Patent number: 4832763Abstract: A method of stress-relief annealing a magnetic core constructed of magnetic, metallic strip material, with at least a portion of the strip material being amorphous, wherein the strip material has major plane surfaces which define first exposed surfaces of the magnetic core, and lateral edges which collectively define second exposed surfaces of the magnetic core. The method includes the step of thermally insulating the first exposed surfaces of the magnetic core, and the step of heating the magnetic core via the second exposed surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1985Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Gary C. Rauch, Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4582765Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling electrochemical fuel cell system components. Periodic reversal of the direction of flow of cooling fluid through a fuel cell stack provides greater uniformity and cell operational temperatures. Flow direction through a recirculating coolant fluid circuit is reversed through a two position valve, without requiring modulation of the pumping component.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1981Date of Patent: April 15, 1986Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4429206Abstract: A minimum loss multilayer solenoid for induction heating is characterized by the ampere-turns carrying the same current per conductor from one layer to the next on account of the dimensioning of the conductors having width and thickness varying monotonically in opposite directions across the layers. Central cooling for the conductors is accommodated in the parallel layers with sectional distribution of the cooling medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1982Date of Patent: January 31, 1984Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4383009Abstract: A fuel cell and system for supply electrolyte, as well as fuel and an oxidant to a fuel cell stack having at least two fuel cells, each of the cells having a pair of spaced electrodes and a matrix sandwiched therebetween, fuel and oxidant paths associated with a bipolar plate separating each pair of adjacent fuel cells and an electrolyte fill path for adding electrolyte to the cells and wetting said matrices. Electrolyte is flowed through the fuel cell stack in a back and forth fashion in a path in each cell substantially parallel to one face of opposite faces of the bipolar plate exposed to one of the electrodes and the matrices to produce an overall head uniformly between cells due to frictional pressure drop in the path for each cell free of a large hydrostatic head to thereby avoid flooding of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1981Date of Patent: May 10, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4342816Abstract: Arrangements of stacks of fuel cells and ducts, for fuel cells operating with separate fuel, oxidant and coolant streams. An even number of stacks are arranged generally end-to-end in a loop. Ducts located at the juncture of consecutive stacks of the loop feed oxidant or fuel to or from the two consecutive stacks, each individual duct communicating with two stacks. A coolant fluid flows from outside the loop, into and through cooling channels of the stack, and is discharged into an enclosure duct formed within the loop by the stacks and seals at the junctures at the stacks.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1981Date of Patent: August 3, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Richard E. Kothmann, Edward V. Somers
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Patent number: 4324844Abstract: A fuel cell arrangement having cooling fluid flow passages which vary in surface area from the inlet to the outlet of the passages. A smaller surface area is provided at the passage inlet, which increases toward the passage outlet, so as to provide more uniform cooling of the entire fuel cell. The cooling passages can also be spaced from one another in an uneven fashion.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1980Date of Patent: April 13, 1982Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4292379Abstract: A fuel cell arrangement having a non-uniform distribution of fuel and oxidant flow paths, on opposite sides of an electrolyte matrix, sized and positioned to provide approximately uniform fuel and oxidant utilization rates, and cell conditions, across the entire cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1980Date of Patent: September 29, 1981Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4276355Abstract: Fuel cell stack configurations having elongated polygonal cross-sectional shapes and gaskets at the peripheral faces to which flow manifolds are sealingly affixed. Process channels convey a fuel and an oxidant through longer channels, and a cooling fluid is conveyed through relatively shorter cooling passages. The polygonal structure preferably includes at least two right angles, and the faces of the stack are arranged in opposite parallel pairs.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1980Date of Patent: June 30, 1981Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Richard E. Kothmann, Joseph A. Cyphers
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Patent number: 4223366Abstract: A gapless surge arrester is disclosed herein and includes a porcelain outer casing and a stack of zinc oxide discs located within the casing for passing surge currents therethrough. Silicon dioxide, preferably sand, is provided between this stack in the casing for transferring heat from the discs to the porcelain outer casing as a result of the surge current and for absorbing fault energy where necessary by changing states.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1978Date of Patent: September 16, 1980Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Andrew S. Sweetana, Jr., Tapan K. Gupta, Richard E. Kothmann, Joseph C. Osterhout
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Patent number: 4179240Abstract: A water-cooled turbine rotor blade having an enlarged radially-extending chamber forming a coolant reservoir connected to cooling passages subadjacent the blade surface. The channels interconnecting the reservoir with the passages are adjacent the blade tip so that the pressurized water (i.e., due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation) in the reservoir flows into the channels at the tip and thence through the cooling passages radially inwardly. Heat absorption from the blade causes vaporization of the water as it flows through the passages. The cooling passages terminate radially inwardly (adjacent the hub or root portion) in a space in flow communication with the enlarged chamber and an exhaust port in the downstream face of the root so that vapor is exhausted at the downstream face and any liquid exiting the coolant passages is returned to the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1977Date of Patent: December 18, 1979Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Richard E. Kothmann
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Patent number: 4149134Abstract: A heat storage system provides overload capacity for a vaporization-cooled electrical apparatus. An external housing, containing a heat storage fluid, is disposed around a fluid conductor connecting a non-condensable gas storage reservoir and the radiator of a vaporization-cooled electrical apparatus. At normal loads, the non-condensable gas is contained within the fluid conductor and the storage reservoir thereby thermally isolating the storage fluid from the hot vapors contained within a radiator which keeps the storage fluid at ambient temperatures. A pressure increase, caused by an overload, compresses the non-condensable gas into the storage reservoir and allows the hot vapors to flow into a portion of the fluid conductor surrounded by the external housing whereby heat is dissipated from the hot vapors to the storage fluid contained within the external housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1977Date of Patent: April 10, 1979Assignee: Elect Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Richard E. Kothmann, Donald K. Whirlow
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Patent number: 4123618Abstract: An improved vapor-cooled terminal-bushing is provided for increased current-carrying capacity, such as 6,000 amperes, for example, in an oil-type circuit-breaker, being provided with a "dry" body portion, utilizing resinous materials, such as epoxy-resin formulations, for example.Preferably, the body portion of resinous materials, such as epoxy resin, for example, is composite, or of a two-piece construction, having an inner first epoxy-resin formulation having improved dielectric strength, and an outer-disposed externally-located "petticoat"-type insulating second body portion, having weather-sheds, the second weather-shed annular body portion being preferably cast directly onto the inner high-dielectric-strength first epoxy-body portion, and having some flexibility for adherence purposes.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1976Date of Patent: October 31, 1978Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: George B. Cushing, Richard E. Kothmann