Patents by Inventor Stephen G. Ruggles

Stephen G. Ruggles 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: 5445498
    Abstract: A next-to-the-last stage steam turbine bucket has a profile according to the table set forth in the specification. The buckets also include continuous couplings at the bucket mid-point including nubs on each bucket projecting from opposite sides thereof in generally circumferentially extending directions. A sleeve is disposed between each pair of adjacent buckets and has open opposite ends for receiving the nubs of the adjacent buckets. The cross-sections of the nubs and open ends of the sleeve are generally complementary and non-circular to prevent sleeve rotation during turbine operation. The buckets have a continuous cover including cover elements having tenons projecting from opposite sides for reception in corresponding openings in the tips of adjacent buckets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John C. Williams, Stephen G. Ruggles
  • Patent number: 5393200
    Abstract: A last-stage steam turbine bucket having a profile according to the charts set forth in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Cuong V. Dinh, Stephen G. Ruggles, James H. Vogan
  • Patent number: 5326221
    Abstract: Steam turbine nozzle blades and buckets are profiled in accordance with Tables I and II or multiples of the X,Y and R coordinates of the charts. The profiles of the nozzle blades impose a parabolic flow distribution at the throat and the buckets accommodate the incoming flow. The nozzle blades and buckets are over-cambered at their roots and tips to constrict flow from the roots and tips into the mid-regions of the blades and buckets. Improved aerodynamic efficiencies are obtained by directing the flow away from the end walls of the blades and buckets toward the efficient mid-region of the blades and buckets whereby flow velocity and angle leaving the nozzle has a non-linear distribution and the bucket velocity leaving angles are similarly non-linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph W. Amyot, Stephen G. Ruggles, Philip F. Berrahou, Robert J. Orlando
  • Patent number: 5286169
    Abstract: A last-stage steam turbine bucket having an actual and theoretical profile according to Charts II-XVI. The last-stage turbine bucket has a theoretical profile according to Charts I-XVII.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cuong V. Dinh, Stephen G. Ruggles, Chic S. Yang
  • Patent number: 5267834
    Abstract: A last-stage steam turbine bucket having a profile according to Charts II-XIII, XV-XXVII and XXIX of Table I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cuong V. Dinh, Stephen G. Ruggles
  • Patent number: 4643645
    Abstract: A stage of an axial flow turbine includes a plurality of spaced apart buckets and a plurality of spaced apart nozzle partitions, each plurality respectively circumferentially aligned about and axially spaced from each other along a rotor of the turbine. The nozzle partitions are circumferentially spaced such that a minimum throat extends a predetermined radial distance from the root, thereby forming a converging-diverging flow passageway between nozzle partitions. The trailing edge of the nozzle partitions are disposed to include axial and tangential lean with respect to the rotor. Buckets include a plurality of covers respectively connecting the tips and having a single outward radially extending sealing rib on the radially outer surface of each cover, wherein each rib is tangentially aligned with respective adjacent ribs. Buckets are overtwisted to compensate for untwist at operational speed to achieve optimum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Robbins, Stephen G. Ruggles, Dan Duncan, John C. Williams, Stephen K. Tung, William J. Sumner, Cuong V. Dinh