Patents by Inventor William R. McCown

William R. McCown 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: 8630688
    Abstract: A winding for use in a superconducting electric generator having a rotating rotor assembly surrounded by a non-rotating stator assembly is provided. The winding comprises at least one conductor structure associated with a component in the superconducting electric generator. The conductor structure comprises a plurality of conductive elements formed from a high temperature superconductive material. At least a portion of the conductive elements is arranged in a transposed relationship. A protective shell is positioned about the conductive elements and formed from a high strength alloy suitable for cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, William R. McCown
  • Patent number: 7999433
    Abstract: A generator rotor core (54) carrying superconducting windings (60) and having a shield (426) over the superconducting windings (60) to prevent external magnetic fields from impinging the windings. Axial shield edges (430/434) mate with corresponding features of the rotor core (54) or with structures affixed to or supported by the core (54) to support the shield (426).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Patent number: 7825551
    Abstract: Support structures (100) for attaching superconducting conductors (106) to a rotor (50) of an electrical machine (10). The support structures (100) are mechanically configured to transfer loads exerted on the superconducting conductors (106) during both normal and transient operation of the rotor (50). The mechanical configuration and material of the support structures (100) further present a thermal path that is longer than the physical distance between the superconducting conductors (106) and the rotor (50) thereby minimizing heat flow from the warm rotor (50) to the cold superconducting conductors (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Publication number: 20100201220
    Abstract: A generator rotor core (54) carrying superconducting windings (60) and having a shield (426) over the superconducting windings (60) to prevent external magnetic fields from impinging the windings. Axial shield edges (430/434) mate with corresponding features of the rotor core (54) or with structures affixed to or supported by the core (54) to support the shield (426).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Patent number: 7667366
    Abstract: A generator rotor core (54) carrying superconducting windings (60) and having a shield (426) over the superconducting windings (60) to prevent external magnetic fields from impinging the windings. Axial shield edges (430/434) mate with corresponding features of the rotor core (54) or with structures affixed to or supported by the core (54) to support the shield (426).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Publication number: 20090315425
    Abstract: Support structures (100) for attaching superconducting conductors (106) to a rotor (50) of an electrical machine (10). The support structures (100) are mechanically configured to transfer loads exerted on the superconducting conductors (106) during both normal and transient operation of the rotor (50). The mechanical configuration and material of the support structures (100) further present a thermal path that is longer than the physical distance between the superconducting conductors (106) and the rotor (50) thereby minimizing heat flow from the warm rotor (50) to the cold superconducting conductors (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Patent number: 7633192
    Abstract: Support structures (100) for attaching superconducting conductors (106) to a rotor (50) of an electrical machine (10). The support structures (100) are mechanically configured to transfer loads exerted on the superconducting conductors (106) during both normal and transient operation of the rotor (50). The mechanical configuration and material of the support structures (100) further present a thermal path that is longer than the physical distance between the superconducting conductors (106) and the rotor (50) thereby minimizing heat flow from the warm rotor (50) to the cold superconducting conductors (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Publication number: 20080227648
    Abstract: A winding for use in a superconducting electric generator having a rotating rotor assembly surrounded by a non-rotating stator assembly is provided. The winding comprises at least one conductor structure associated with a component in the superconducting electric generator. The conductor structure comprises a plurality of conductive elements formed from a high temperature superconductive material. At least a portion of the conductive elements is arranged in a transposed relationship. A protective shell is positioned about the conductive elements and formed from a high strength alloy suitable for cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS POWER GENERATION, INC.
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, William R. McCown
  • Publication number: 20080143208
    Abstract: A generator rotor core (54) carrying superconducting windings (60) and having a shield (426) over the superconducting windings (60) to prevent external magnetic fields from impinging the windings. Axial shield edges (430/434) mate with corresponding features of the rotor core (54) or with structures affixed to or supported by the core (54) to support the shield (426).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Publication number: 20080079323
    Abstract: Support structures (100) for attaching superconducting conductors (106) to a rotor (50) of an electrical machine (10). The support structures (100) are mechanically configured to transfer loads exerted on the superconducting conductors (106) during both normal and transient operation of the rotor (50). The mechanical configuration and material of the support structures (100) further present a thermal path that is longer than the physical distance between the superconducting conductors (106) and the rotor (50) thereby minimizing heat flow from the warm rotor (50) to the cold superconducting conductors (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jiping Zhang, Robert J. Nelson, Peter J. Clayton, William R. McCown
  • Patent number: 5203070
    Abstract: A method of designing and manufacturing an electrical generator which has a specific target power output rating includes the steps of selecting one of a predetermined, standardized set of diameters for the rotor, stator and frame of the generator; and subsequently selecting the length of the generator stator core and one of several standardized number of stator coil slots based on the target power rating and voltage of the generator. The invention permits standardized generator components which are specific to the selected set of diameters to be used during assembly of the generator, instead of customized components, which results in reduced design and manufacturing costs per generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Lon W. Montgomery, Glenn D. Cooper, William R. McCown