Patents by Inventor Steve V. Miller

Steve V. Miller 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).

  • Systems and methods for grinding coal with secondary air bias and bowl pressure control loops and perforation plates
    Patent number: 7926751
    Abstract: A grinding system includes a mill housing. A milling unit in the housing has a moveable milling member operable to grind coal. A drive system includes a drive shaft and at least one gear in a gear case drivingly connecting the milling member to the drive shaft. An exhauster is operable to draw air into the housing through an inlet and draw a mixture of air and powdered coal out of the housing through an outlet. A pressurization system is operable to maintain the gear case pressure at a higher pressure than an air pressure in the housing. In one method of grinding coal a gear case pressure is maintained at a pressure higher than a pressure at the housing inlet while the milling member grinds coal into a powder and the exhauster draws a mixture of powdered coal and air out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ameren Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory A. Musch, Steve V. Miller
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRINDING COAL WITH SECONDARY AIR BIAS AND BOWL PRESSURE CONTROL LOOPS AND PERFORATION PLATES
    Publication number: 20090090799
    Abstract: A grinding system includes a mill housing. A milling unit in the housing has a moveable milling member operable to grind coal. A drive system includes a drive shaft and at least one gear in a gear case drivingly connecting the milling member to the drive shaft. An exhauster is operable to draw air into the housing through an inlet and draw a mixture of air and powdered coal out of the housing through an outlet. A pressurization system is operable to maintain the gear case pressure at a higher pressure than an air pressure in the housing. In one method of grinding coal a gear case pressure is maintained at a pressure higher than a pressure at the housing inlet while the milling member grinds coal into a powder and the exhauster draws a mixture of powdered coal and air out of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: AMEREN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory A. Musch, Steve V. Miller