Patents by Inventor Zbigniew S. Piec

Zbigniew S. Piec 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).

  • TEST APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD HAVING A MAGNETIC FEATURE
    Publication number: 20100117679
    Abstract: A test apparatus involving a rotor coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive system; a stator coupled to a brush holder; a brush held by the brush holder, wherein the brush is held in contact with the rotor; a housing for supporting the rotor and the stator; and a superconducting magnet for providing a magnetic field in the vicinity of the brush, in accordance with one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Piec, David E. Corbett, Alan R. Langhorn
  • Test apparatus, system, and method with a magnetic feature
    Patent number: 7642806
    Abstract: A magnetic test apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment, comprising a rotor coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive system; a stator coupled to at least one brush holder; at least one brush held by the brush holder, wherein the brush is held in contact with the rotor; a housing for supporting the rotor and the stator; and a magnet for providing a magnetic field in the vicinity of the at least one brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Piec, David E. Corbett, Alan R. Langhorn
  • Magnetic test apparatus
    Publication number: 20080150572
    Abstract: A magnetic test apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment, comprising a rotor coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive system; a stator coupled to at least one brush holder; at least one brush held by the brush holder, wherein the brush is held in contact with the rotor; a housing for supporting the rotor and the stator; and a magnet for providing a magnetic field in the vicinity of the at least one brush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Piec, David E. Corbett, Alan R. Langhorn
  • Homopolar machine with brush improvement
    Patent number: 7199499
    Abstract: The wear life of flexible copper fiber brushes when used at a positive pole in a direct current motor or generator is improved by the provision of an effective amount of zinc as a sacrificial anode material. Flame-sprayed zinc is applied as a coating to the exterior surface of such a copper fiber pack to bond the fibers with a surrounding metal wire reinforcing wrap, of cross wound copper wire or fine mesh, woven copper wire screen material, and create an improved brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Alan R. Langhorn, Zbigniew S. Piec
  • Homopolar machine with improved brush lifetime
    Patent number: 6873078
    Abstract: A homopolar machine which exhibits reduced wear and prolonged brush life. Current collectors or brushes are mounted so as to maintain substantially constant contact pressure and so that all of them are polarized negative. Brush holders are provided which facilitate the application of precise and constant contact pressure in a region of very high magnetic forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Piec, Alan Robert Langhorn, David A. Hazlebeck