Abstract: A fault-tolerant synchronisation source for excitation control of a three-phase generator system that combines point of regulation (POR) signals representing parameters comprising voltage and current for each phase at the POR to generate a fault-tolerant synchronisation signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power converter that can be used to interface a generator that provides variable voltage at variable frequency to a supply network operating at nominally fixed voltage and nominally fixed frequency and including features that allow the power converter to remain connected to the supply network and retain control during supply network fault and transient conditions. The power converter includes a generator bridge electrically connected to the stator of the generator and a network bridge. A dc link is connected between the generator bridge and the network bridge. A filter having network terminals is connected between the network bridge and the supply network. A first controller is provided for controlling the operation of the semiconductor power switching devices of the generator bridge. Similarly, a second controller is provided for controlling the operation of the semiconductor power switching devices of the network bridge.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a pylon and a pod arranged at the tip of the pylon. The invention further concerns a method of controlling such a wind power installation. In order to prevent a fire from occurring or at least to be able to rapidly extinguish a fire which has occurred, there is provided a first apparatus for producing an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes a three-dimensional substrate having an annular curved surface enabling to propagate a surface acoustic wave, and an electro-acoustic transducing element, which excites and propagates the surface wave along the surface, and receives the propagated surface wave. The substrate is made of a Li2B4O7, Bi12SiO20, LiNbO3, LiTaO3, or quartz crystal, and the element propagates the surface wave along a line of intersection between a crystal face of the crystal and the surface, and the line of intersection is defined as an outermost circumferential line of the surface. An environmental difference detecting apparatus uses the device having a plurality of propagating surface zones and compares surface acoustic wave reception signals of electro-acoustic transducing elements in the propagating surface zones of the device with each other, and detects an environmental difference in space portions with which the propagating surface zones come into contact.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for pre-loading an electrically stimulated smart material actuator product to obtain maximum work from the actuator. When a smart material actuator is optimally pre-loaded certain desirable characteristics become apparent, such as work, operational frequency, hysteresis, repeatability, and overall accuracy. When used in conjunction with a mechanically leveraged actuator structure the smart material actuator can be used to its greatest potential. Since the mechanically leveraged actuator can be based on the maximum work provided by the smart material actuator, certain attributes such as the force, and displacement of total system can be adjusted without loss to system efficiency. Pre-loading methods and a determination of the optimal pre-load force are disclosed. Each smart material actuator type has a unique work curve. In the design of an actuator assembly, the process of optimizing uses the unique work curve to optimize the design for the requirements of the particular application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Abstract: A wave motion generator having a bore hole at a coastline of an ocean. The bore hole lower end communicates with the ocean underwater while the upper end is above water level, allowing wave motion within the bore hole. A float disposed within the bore hole may travel along the borehole between at least two positions. A linkage attached to the float converts the motion of the float to rotary motion of a generator shaft so as to induce electric current in the generator. The linkage may be pneumatic, in which the float motion induces pressurized air to drive a turbine, or it may be a chain drive, a shaft drive, etc.

Abstract: A permanent magnet starter/generator subsystem configured in a fault tolerant architecture is described herein for small engine applications. The system allows for lighter system weight, improved system reliability, higher performance capability and reduced maintenance.

Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.

Abstract: A wind driven generator includes a rotor disposed in a cylindrical duct and supported by a frame for rotation in response to wind flowing through the duct. The rotor includes plural circumferentially spaced paralleled rotor blades supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. Each blade is supported for pivotal movement to change blade pitch, angle of attack or camber as the rotor rotates. A pitch or camber control motor or self-governing wind vane mechanism is operable to move a circular cam to vary blade pitch or camber to control rotor speed. The duct is mounted on a mast having a base supported on a foundation for pivotal movement to face the wind for maximizing air flow through the duct. Electric power generators are connected to opposite ends of the rotor at respective power output or drive shafts.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to transducer arrays are disclosed. In one embodiment, an acoustical system includes a substrate with a plurality of conductive paths. A plurality of acoustical transducers can be carried by the substrate and positioned to form an array having at least one dimension. The acoustical transducers can be configured to sense sound and to transmit input signals to the substrate. The substrate can be configured to receive the input signals and to transmit an output signal to an output device. In another embodiment, a plurality of substrates having a plurality of conductive paths can carry a plurality of acoustical transducers, and can be coupled together and recoupled to fit into different volumes.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotor for an electrical motor, a tool for making a rotor core and a method of making the rotor. The rotor could be incorporated e.g. in a line-start motor and comprises a squirrel cage and magnet located in a rotor core. The magnets are, in one end of the rotor, secured by an end plate with apertures which are larger than the magnet openings, and the end plate is indexed relative to the magnet slots such that a first portion of openings into the magnet slots is in communication with the aperture and such that a remaining, second, portion of the magnet slots is covered by the end plate. In one aspect, the end plate forms an integrated part of the rotor core and comprises openings cooperating with conductor slots to form through-going passages for conductors of the squirrel cage. In that way, the end plate is held in a completely fixed position by the squirrel cage which is moulded directly onto the core and into the conductor slots.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal tuning fork resonator comprises a tuning fork base and a plurality of tuning fork tines connected to the tuning fork base, each of the tuning fork tines having opposite main surfaces and side surfaces, a groove having a plurality of stepped portions being formed in at least one of the opposite main surfaces of each of the tuning fork tines, a plurality of first electrodes being disposed on the stepped portions of the groove in at least one of the opposite main surfaces of each of the tuning fork tines, a plurality of second electrodes being disposed on the side surfaces of each of the tuning fork tines, the piezoelectric crystal tuning fork resonator comprising three electrode terminals and each of the three electrode terminals having a different electrical polarity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for constructing a wind energy plant and to a wind energy plant as such. An aim of one aspect of the invention is to provide a method for constructing wind energy plants at lower expenses and more rapidly. According to one aspect, a method for constructing a wind energy plant that comprises a tower that is based on a foundation and an electrical power module, the power module is mounted on the tower foundation before the tower itself is constructed. The power module comprises a transformer and optionally an inverter or other electrical installations, such as for example switch cabinets, that are provided for controlling the wind energy plant and/or for guiding the electrical power that is provided by the generator of the wind energy plant and that is fed to a network.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes a three-dimensional substrate having an annular curved surface enabling to propagate a surface acoustic wave, and an electro-acoustic transducing element, which excites and propagates the surface wave along the surface, and receives the propagated surface wave. The substrate is made of a Li2B4O7, Bi12SiO20, LiNbO3, LiTaO3, or quartz crystal, and the element propagates the surface wave along a line of intersection between a crystal face of the crystal and the surface, and the line of intersection is defined as an outermost circumferential line of the surface. An environmental difference detecting apparatus uses the device having a plurality of propagating surface zones and compares surface acoustic wave reception signals of electro-acoustic transducing elements in the propagating surface zones of the device with each other, and detects an environmental difference in space portions with which the propagating surface zones come into contact.

Abstract: An electric motor has an armature rotatably accommodated inside a motor housing and a pair of magnets fixed to an inner surface of the motor housing so as to face the armature. The armature has an armature core 17 fixed to a rotating shaft 16, and ten slots S1 to S10 formed on the armature core accommodate coils. These slots S1 to S10 are of four types that are different in shape, thereby enhancing a lamination factor of each coil. Also, these slots S1 to S10 are formed so as to be tilted in a rotating direction with respect to an axial direction of the rotating shaft 16. Therefore, a magnetic imbalance caused by the slots S1 to S10 being formed in varying shapes is uniformized.

Abstract: A device for opening and closing an opening (11), in particular in a motor vehicle, by means of a motor-driven, movable part (10), with a control unit (26) and a pinch prevention sensor (14), which is disposed essentially along an edge (20) of the part (10) and/or of a frame profile (12) bordering the opening (11) and which, during the closing of the part (10), detects an obstacle (24) that is in the movement path of the part (10) and sends a signal to the control unit (26) in order to stop or reverse the movement of the part (10), wherein the pinch prevention sensor (14) has a highly elastic, electroactive polymer (EAP) material (30), in particular polyurethane, fluoroelastomer, polybutadiene, fluorosilicone, or silicone, disposed between electrodes (28, 34, 36), which produces a voltage change in the electrodes (28, 34, 36) in the event of a deformation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic oscillator, comprises a group of internal electrodes divided into four approximately equal parts along two directions, i.e., a second direction which is perpendicular to a direction of layers as first direction, and a third direction which is also perpendicular to the first direction; and comprises an electrode connection-use conductor film which is formed along a face perpendicular to the aforementioned direction of layers for electrically connecting a predetermined external electrode among the first group of external electrodes and a predetermined external electrode among the second group of external electrodes, respectively.

Abstract: A spring device includes of a coil spring case formed of right, left, back and front side plates and a spring receiving plate, a coil spring having a linear spring property, and a spring urging member for urging the coil spring into the coil spring case. A distance between the right and left side plates of the spring case is set a little larger than an outer diameter of the coil spring. A distance between the back and front side pates of the spring case is set about 1.5 to 2 times larger than the outer diameter of the coil spring, and a length of the spring case is set smaller than a free length of the coil spring. The coil spring is deformed and a non-linear spring property is obtained when the coil spring is urged through the spring urging member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a supporting member in which pressure chambers are formed, a vibration plate which is joined to a joining section of the supporting member, a piezoelectric layer formed on the vibration plate, and an FPC provided on the piezoelectric layer. A contact section of an electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer and a terminal section of the FPC are electrically connected via a bump formed on the terminal section. A recess is formed on an upper surface of the supporting member right below the bump. While joining the piezoelectric layer and a wire member, any damage of the piezoelectric layer and any poor connection do not occur.