Patents by Inventor Stephen Michael Cordes

Stephen Michael Cordes 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: 9784121
    Abstract: A continuous slag processing system includes a rotating parallel disc pump, coupled to a motor and a brake. The rotating parallel disc pump includes opposing discs coupled to a shaft, an outlet configured to continuously receive a fluid at a first pressure, and an inlet configured to continuously discharge the fluid at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The rotating parallel disc pump is configurable in a reverse-acting pump mode and a letdown turbine mode. The motor is configured to drive the opposing discs about the shaft and against a flow of the fluid to control a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the reverse-acting pump mode. The brake is configured to resist rotation of the opposing discs about the shaft to control the difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the letdown turbine mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Hsien-Chin William Yen, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Patent number: 9702372
    Abstract: A system includes a first pump having a first outlet and a first inlet, and a controller. The first pump is configured to continuously receive a flow of a slurry into the first outlet at a first pressure and to continuously discharge the flow of the slurry from the first inlet at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The controller is configured to control a first speed of the first pump against the flow of the slurry based at least in part on the first pressure, wherein the first speed of the first pump is configured to resist a backflow of the slurry from the first outlet to the first inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Publication number: 20150159654
    Abstract: A system includes a first pump having a first outlet and a first inlet, and a controller. The first pump is configured to continuously receive a flow of a slurry into the first outlet at a first pressure and to continuously discharge the flow of the slurry from the first inlet at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The controller is configured to control a first speed of the first pump against the flow of the slurry based at least in part on the first pressure, wherein the first speed of the first pump is configured to resist a backflow of the slurry from the first outlet to the first inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Publication number: 20150159503
    Abstract: A continuous slag processing system includes a rotating parallel disc pump, coupled to a motor and a brake. The rotating parallel disc pump includes opposing discs coupled to a shaft, an outlet configured to continuously receive a fluid at a first pressure, and an inlet configured to continuously discharge the fluid at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The rotating parallel disc pump is configurable in a reverse-acting pump mode and a letdown turbine mode. The motor is configured to drive the opposing discs about the shaft and against a flow of the fluid to control a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the reverse-acting pump mode. The brake is configured to resist rotation of the opposing discs about the shaft to control the difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the letdown turbine mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Hsien-Chin William Yen, Stephen Michael Cordes