General Electric Company

Robert A Marshall

Jens Kure-Jensen

A low collapse speed, self priming, lubricating oil pumping system for a turbomachine, operatively driven by the turbine main shaft, is disclosed. In a preferred form, the invention includes a permanent magnet generator operatively coupled to shaft of the turbine-generator or turbomachine being lubricated and driven thereby to produce an electrical output; an induction motor directly connected to the electrical output of the permanent magnet generator without intervening protective devices such as fuses, switches, and so forth; and a positive displacement pump located in or in proximity to an oil reservoir and driven by the induction motor to pump oil from the reservoir at a flow rate and pressure sufficient to supply oil to the turbine-generator or turbomachine during all operating phases thereof during which lubrication is required.

Low collapse speed lube oil pumping system for turbomachinery

A current collector for an electrical machine employs a rotor collector ring encircled by a stator collector ring to which a compliant brush fabricated of an electrically-conductive, liquid metal-permeable material is attached. Liquid metal saturates said liquid metal-permeable material and forms a thin liquid metal film which makes sliding contact with the rotor collector ring, completing contact between the rotor and stator collector rings through the compliant brush. Adequate liquid metal is maintained in the collector by pumping means supplying liquid metal through the stator collector ring.

Permeable mesh current collector for DC machines

An electrical current collector for an acyclic machine employs a rotor collector ring and a stator collector surface connected by a liquid metal current collector having a limited area defined by a nonconductive enclosure for containing conductive liquid metal. Liquid metal is supplied to the enclosure by a passageway through the stator contact area having an orifice within the enclosure area. The enclosure is resiliently mounted upon the stator and spring biased toward the rotor collector ring. The liquid metal making the contact between the rotor collector ring and the stator collector area is maintained under pressure and a limited leakage between the enclosure surface and the rotor collector ring is allowed. The enclosure wall may contain permanent magnets to limit the magnetic affects upon the liquid metal in the current collectors from the excitation field.

Novel liquid metal current collector configuration

A current collector for an electrical machine employs a rotor collector ring encircled by a stator collector ring to which a compliant brush of U-shaped cross section and fabricated of an electrically conductive, liquid metal-permeable material is attached. The region enclosed between the stator collector ring and the brush is filled with liquid metal which seeps outward through the brush interstices, forming on the brush a thin liquid metal film which makes sliding contact with the rotor collector ring, enhancing conductivity between the rotor and stator collector rings through the brush filaments.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Robert A Marshall