Alberto L Franco

US Patent:

6452301, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Nov 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/002785

Inventors:

Pieter Van Dine - Mystic CT
Alberto Franco - Hazlet NJ
Spyro Pappas - Fort Lee NJ
Michael Gheorghiu - Forest Hills NY

Assignee:

Electric Boat Corporation - Groton CT

International Classification:

H02K 2122

US Classification:

31015612

Abstract:

In the rotor arrangement disclosed in the specification a rotor has a central shaft with a surrounding rim to which a circumferential array of pole pieces is mechanically affixed by screws. An array of permanent magnets each mounted between an adjacent pair of pole pieces is radially retained in position by a slot wedge having edges shaped to interlock with the outer side portions of the adjacent pole pieces. The outer surfaces of the pole pieces and slot wedges form a uniform cylindrical outer surface which is covered by an outer wrap of fiber reinforced polymer material to assure that the magnets are retained radially in position.

US Patent:

6481090, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Jun 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/891073

Inventors:

Alberto Franco - Hazlet NJ
Spyro Pappas - Fort Lee NJ
Michael Gheorghiu - Forest Hills NY
Michael J. Lubas - Basking Ridge NJ

Assignee:

Electric Boat Corporation - Groton CT

International Classification:

H02K 1502

US Classification:

29598, 29596

Abstract:

In the embodiments described in the specification, a permanent magnet machine has a stator assembly containing a circular array of stator windings and a rotor assembly containing passages for permanent magnets and supported for rotation within the stator windings. The rotor assembly contains dummy magnet blocks in each passage during assembly of the rotor assembly in the stator assembly and a loading fixture containing energized permanent magnets is aligned with each passage in succession into which it supplies a row of permanent magnets while the dummy magnet blocks are removed by a retrieving fixture at the opposite end of the passage. After the permanent magnets have been inserted an end cover is mounted at each end of the passage to hold the energized permanent magnets in position.

US Patent:

6603232, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Nov 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/002786

Inventors:

Pieter Van Dine - Mystic CT
Alberto Franco - Hazlet NJ
Spyro Pappas - Fort Lee NJ
Michael Gheorghiu - Forest Hills NY

Assignee:

Electric Boat Corporation - Groton CT

International Classification:

H02K 128

US Classification:

31015601, 31015608, 31015618, 310152, 310 91

Abstract:

In the embodiments described in the specification, permanent magnets are retained on a permanent magnet rotor rim by inverted U-shaped retainers and in one embodiment the outer surfaces of the retainers converge inwardly in the radially outward direction and engage corresponding surfaces of adjacent pole pieces which converge inwardly in the radially outward direction. In another embodiment the U-shaped retainers are affixed to the rotor rim by screws accessible through openings in the radially outer wall of the retainers and a further embodiment each retainer has outwardly projecting flanges which are affixed to the rotor rim by screws.

US Patent:

6750628, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Dec 3, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/006946

Inventors:

Alberto Franco - Hazlet NJ
John McGarvey - Laurence Harbor NJ
Daniel Kane - Edison NJ
Michael Salata - Fords NJ

Assignee:

Electric Boat Corporation - Groton CT

International Classification:

H02P 736

US Classification:

318727

Abstract:

In the embodiments described in the specification, a permanent magnet machine includes a stator having windings which intercept flux received from peripheral pole pieces in a rotor generated by permanent magnets disposed between the pole pieces. In order to control the flux passing through the stator windings, flux shunts are provided between the pole pieces and a winding on the core of each flux shunt generates flux in the shunt in proportion to current supplied to the winding so as to decrease the flux from the magnets which can be diverted from the pole pieces through the shunt. Current is supplied to the flux shunt windings in accordance with the instantaneous difference between the wave shape of the output from the machine and a desired wave shape stored in a control unit. An encoder supplies a signal to the control unit indicating the instantaneous position of the rotor with respect to the stator.

US Patent:

6837757, Jan 4, 2005

Filed:

Apr 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/123374

Inventors:

Pieter Van Dine - Mystic CT, US
Alberto Franco - Hazlet NJ, US
John H. Chapman - Noank CT, US
Michael A. Quadrini - Westerly RI, US

Assignee:

Electric Boat Corporation - Groton CT

International Classification:

B60L 1100

US Classification:

440 6, 310 87

Abstract:

In the embodiments described in the specification, a rim-driven propulsion pod arrangement has a cylindrical housing with a duct providing a flow path for water and a rotor assembly supported from a central shaft and containing a rotating blade row and driven by a rim drive permanent magnet motor recessed in the housing. An array of vanes downstream from the rotating blade row is arranged to straighten the flow of water emerging from the rotating blade row. Radial bearing members on the rotor have a hardness less than that of the shaft on which the rotor is supported and relatively soft protrusions are provided in the space between the rotor and the housing to limit excursion of the rotor. A thrust bearing has wedges arranged to form a water wedge between facing surfaces of the rotor and the rotor support during rotation of the rotor.

US Patent:

6847145, Jan 25, 2005

Filed:

May 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/157423

Inventors:

Pieter Van Dine - Mystic CT, US
Alberto Franco - Niantic CT, US
Spyro Pappas - Fort Lee NJ, US
Mervin Laparre - Preston CT, US

Assignee:

Electric Boat Corporation - Groton CT

International Classification:

H02K 2112

US Classification:

31015659, 31015648, 310 43, 31015661

Abstract:

Encapsulation of a permanent magnet rotor is achieved by applying a glass roving material to spaces in the rotor structure, applying a veil cloth around the outer surface of the rotor, mounting a vacuum bag with vacuum ports around the outer surface of the rotor, removing vent plugs from the end walls of the rotor and screws from an inner ring of the rotor and replacing them with vacuum ports and applying a vacuum to the vacuum ports. After air has been removed from the rotor, an encapsulating resin is applied to some of the ports to introduce resin into the interior of the rotor. After curing of the resin the vacuum bag is removed and the outer surface of the rotor is machined to the desired outer dimension of the rotor.

US Patent:

20030127924, Jul 10, 2003

Filed:

Jan 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/040833

Inventors:

Pieter Van Dine - Mystic CT, US
Alberto Franco - Niantic CT, US
Spyro Pappas - Fort Lee NJ, US
Michael Gheorghiu - Forest Hills NY, US

International Classification:

H02K005/00

US Classification:

310/087000, 310/088000, 310/089000

Abstract:

In the embodiments described in the specification, an electric motor has a stator with an inner cylindrical composite can member affixed to the stator housing by screws and the rotor has an outer cylindrical can member affixed to the rotor by screws, each of the composite can members being sealed to the component to which it is affixed by O-rings. In one embodiment ridges are formed in the surface of one of the composite can members facing the space between the stator and the rotor to control the flow of liquid through the space.

US Patent:

20060255679, Nov 16, 2006

Filed:

Jan 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/327378

Inventors:

Pieter Dine - Mystil CT, US
Spyro Pappas - Fort Lee NJ, US
Mihai Georghiu - Boynton Beach FL, US
Daniel Kane - Pawcatuck CT, US
Vladimir Odessky - Trenton NJ, US
Michael Salata - Pawcatuck CT, US
Robert Forney - Stonington CT, US
Alberto Franco - Salem CT, US
Michael Quadrini - Brunswick ME, US

International Classification:

H02K 1/27

US Classification:

310156550, 310156190

Abstract:

An embodiment generally relates to a permanent magnet rotor arrangement. The arrangement includes a rotor having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of pole pieces, a plurality of wedges, and a plurality of permanent magnets. Each magnet is held substantially secure against the rotor by a two pole pieces of the plurality of pole pieces and an associated wedge from the plurality of wedges. Each pole piece is connected to the rotor by a fastener pulled through an associated aperture.