Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Owen L. Lamb
  • Patent number: 7535120
    Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Chipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Erdman, Kevin L. Cousineau, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 7432686
    Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Erdman, Kevin L. Cousineau, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 7339355
    Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Erdman, Kevin L. Cousineau, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 7317260
    Abstract: A turbine control system for a variable speed electrical generator in a wind turbine mounted atop a support tower. The wind turbine converts wind energy into a driving torque applied to the generator. The control system includes a turbine support tower position sensor and may also include other tower acceleration and velocity sensors. A wind flow estimator uses the measured motion, generator rotation rate and blade pitch angle to predict wind flow over the swept area of the turbine's rotor, and the tower motion. The predicted wind flow and motion is used in the turbine control system to properly adjust its operating point, to tune the controller, to control the rotor rotation rate, and to damp tower oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kitchener Clark Wilson
  • Patent number: 7297091
    Abstract: An apparatus for anterior and posterior mobilization of the human talocrural joints for rehabilitation and/or therapeutic utilization. A patient's foot is secured in an apparatus and an Ankle Mortise Strap is looped around the mortise of an ankle of the foot. A force strap is attached to the ends of the Ankle Ankle Mortise Strap. Anterior mobilization is achieved by moving the force strap ventrally from the foot so that the foot including the talus remains stationary while the tibia and fibula glide anteriorly. Posterior mobilizations are achieved by securing the foot, and looping an Ankle Mortise Strap around the front of the ankle. A force strap is attached to the ends of the Ankle Mortise Strap. Posterior mobilization is achieved by moving the force strap dorsally from the foot so that the foot including the talus remains stationary while the tibia and fibula glide posteriorly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Michael J. Nushart
  • Patent number: 7233129
    Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Erdman, Kevin L. Cousineau, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 7095597
    Abstract: A power generating system wherein a variable speed turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The reactive component of turbine generated electrical power is corrected automatically through electronic switched power-factor capacitor banks that are divided into sub-system modules coupled to a central turbine park sub-station. The sub-system modules are of a fixed size and are easily adaptable to different turbine generator types, sizes and groupings. By employing SCR switched power factor capacitors grouped in sub-system modules of fixed size, coupled to a central turbine park sub-station, the converter allows fast, real time control of the utility interconnected power line voltage or power factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Clipper WindPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Cousineau
  • Patent number: 7069802
    Abstract: An electric power-generating device with a rotor turned by an external source of energy, such as wind or water currents. The rotor is coupled to a main shaft. A pair of bull gears is located on the main shaft. A number of intermediate gears are located around a perimeter of the bull gears. An intermediate gear is connected to an input shaft having a double helix pinion that engages the pair of bull gears. The other intermediate gears are similarly connected to respective input shafts having double helix pimons that engage the pair of bull gears. A plurality of output shafts is provided. An output shaft has a single-helix output pinion that engages two adjacent intermediate gears. The other output shafts are similarly connected to respective adjacent intermediate gears. A number of rotational devices are connected to the output shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir S. Mikhail, Edwin C. Hahlbeck
  • Patent number: 7042110
    Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier and an inverter are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system. A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir S. Mikhail, Kevin L. Cousineau, Lawrence H. Howes, William Erdman, William Holley
  • Patent number: 7002259
    Abstract: A controller for high torque, low RPM wind turbines and ocean current turbines. The turbine consists of a large, input power shaft-mounted, rotating bull-gear with stationary powertrains mounted around its periphery. The gear teeth on the bull-gear rotate past the teeth on pinions, causing the pinions to turn and delivering power to each smaller powertrain. A controller regulates torque experienced by each powertrain to assure that torques are balanced between generators at any given system load. The control method comprises the programmatically continuously looping steps of measuring a system parameter to be controlled, such as torque and/or speed, selecting the optimal number of generators to be connected/disconnected to a utility line, incrementally connecting or disconnecting generators to achieve the point of optimal performance, measuring the parameters, such as current and/or voltage, of the connected generators and adjusting the generator parameters to fine tune the system for optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence H. Howes, Amir S. Mikhail, Geoff F. Deane
  • Patent number: 6955025
    Abstract: A tall tower is divided into an upper section with a tower top and a lower section with a tower bottom. The sections are hinged together. The lower section is hinged to a tower base. A telescoping crane is attached to a lift point on the lower section. The crane is extended to lift the sections to the vertical position with the lower section resting on the base and the tower top of the upper section near ground level. A heavy load is attached to the tower top end using a small ground crane while the tower top of the upper section is near ground level. The telescoping crane is attached to another lift point on the upper section to partially lift the upper section, which is supported in this position. The telescoping crane is relocated and reattached to the lift point on the upper section. The telescoping crane is fully extended to raise the upper section and load to vertical above the lower section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. P. Dehlsen, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 6933705
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of stator voltage control for an induction generator. Each phase of the induction generator stator is connected through a secondary coil of a transformer to a utility grid. A stator voltage control circuit is connected in parallel with a primary coil of the transformer. The stator voltage control circuit consists of an on/off switch device connected to a full wave rectifier comprised of four silicon diodes. A single pulse width modulation (PWM) control is utilized to control the on/off switch devices of each phase of the induction generator stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Chipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence H. Howes
  • Patent number: 6923622
    Abstract: A power generating system wherein a turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade section connected to a rotor hub and an extender section. An adjusting device positions the extender section between a retracted position within the main blade section and to an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. The adjusting device includes a first web-engaging wheel anchored at a hub end of the main blade section and a second web-engaging wheel anchored at a distal end of the main blade section. A web is wound around the first and second web-engaging wheels. The extender section is attached to the web at a hub end of the extender section. A generator is connected to the turbine for generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. P. Dehlsen
  • Patent number: 6775356
    Abstract: An emergency call initiated from a wireline or wireless device is recognized at a point along a network path and an alert signal is generated. Additional information including real-time incident and response information is collected in response to the alert signal. The emergency call is associated with the additional information separate from information in the emergency call. A call is then automatically placed to a telephone number designated by the subscriber, the call including the additional information. The real-time incident and response information includes the location of the calling device, and one or more of incident specific information, person specific information, and vehicle specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventors: Angelo Salvucci, Don E. Reich, Kurt E. Warner, William C. Cook
  • Patent number: 6731017
    Abstract: A power source drives a main input shaft. A plurality of output shafts are located around a bull gear which is coupled to the main input shaft. A number of generators are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, such that each one of the output shafts drives a generator. A number of intermediate gears are located around a perimeter of the bull gear, alternating half of the intermediate gears on one side of the bull gear and half on an opposite side of the bull gear. Each one of the intermediate gears is pressure fitted to an intermediate pinion with teeth that engage the bull gear teeth. Each one of the output shafts has two pinions that engage two intermediate gears, one on one side of the bull gear and one on an opposite side of the bull gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Clipper WindPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir S. Mikhall, Edwin C. Hahlbeck
  • Patent number: 6726439
    Abstract: A wind or water flow energy converter comprising a wind or water flow actuated rotor assembly. The rotor comprises a plurality of blades, wherein the blades of are variable in length to provide a variable diameter rotor. The rotor diameter is controlled to fully extend the rotor at low flow velocity and to retract the rotor as flow velocity increases such that the loads delivered by or exerted upon the rotor do not exceed set limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir S. Mikhail, Geoffrey F. Deane
  • Patent number: 6653744
    Abstract: A wind or ocean turbine has an input-power shaft-mounted, rotating bull-gear with smaller stationary pinion-driven powertrains including generators mounted around the periphery of the bull-gear. A controller regulates torque experienced by each powertrain to balance torque between generators at any system load. Regulation includes controlling local voltage at each generator by a transformer configured as a reactor. Coils of the transformers are wired in parallel and actively modulated with an SOR, solid-state, switching device. Each generator output is connected to a respective primary coil of a transformer and a respective secondary coil is connected to an SCR. By using pulse width modulation, the SCR is gated on and off for a portion of a 60 Hz cycle. By adjusting the duty cycle of SCR gating, any voltage between 80% and 100% is attained to satisfy immediate torque requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Clipper Wind Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Stricker
  • Patent number: 6634085
    Abstract: Transducer suspensions are attached to actuator arms by means of bonding a portion of a thermoplastic actuator arm to the magnetic recording head suspension assembly. The actuator arm has rail portions that provide a channel in which the load beam and base plate flange fit. The rail portions are ultrasonically welded using a clamping ultrasonic horn, which causes melted plastic to flow over the flange The clamping ultrasonic horn causes heat to be applied and focused at prongs to cause the rails to flow and expand onto the flange rigidly connecting the base plate and load beam to the actuator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Intriplex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Schmidt, Kevin Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 6634084
    Abstract: A method of bonding a magnetic disk drive head suspension to an actuator arm. The actuator arm has a boss hole therein and the suspension includes a base plate with an inside diameter or barrel therein. A thermoplastic cylindrical core is fabricated with a barrel therein. The suspension and actuator arm are clamped together to form a head stack assembly in which the base plate inside diameter is aligned with the boss hole in the actuator arm. The thermoplastic cylindrical core is passed through the base plate inside diameter and the boss hole in the actuator arm. A heating tool, such as an ultrasonic horn is passed through the barrel of the cylindrical core and heated causing the cylindrical core expand and bond to the base plate inside diameter and to the actuator arm boss hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Intriplex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Schmidt, Kevin Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 6631553
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for assembling a disk drive. The method comprises steps of clamping a number of head suspension assemblies in an actuator body such that base plate hubs in the suspensions are in alignment with corresponding boss holes in actuator arms extending from the actuator body, inserting closed jaws between the actuator arms and in alignment with the base plates, and opening the jaws a reach sufficient to urge each base plate hub into a corresponding boss hole. The jaws are opened by any suitable mechanism, for example by driving a wedge in between the closed jaws. A novel apparatus is employed for joining base plate hubs to actuator arms extending from an actuator body. The apparatus includes an actuator body clamp adapted to hold a number of suspensions in the actuator body, with hubs of the suspensions in alignment with boss holes in the actuator arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Intriplex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Schmidt, Kevin Hanrahan, Steve Braunheim