Patents Examined by Julio Cesar Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7612463
    Abstract: Within a power generating arrangement 1 it is typically necessary to provide a coupling with an electrical power distribution cable 5. Previously this was sometimes achieved through use of brush gear and slip rings but such arrangements are subject to regular replacement for wear, maintenance and also there is a requirement to control humidity about the brush gear coupling. Alternatively, a system allowing an amount of rotation, limited by cable wind up was used. By providing a transformer in which windings 15, 16; 36, 37 are physically separated by an air gap 14, 39, but still induce voltage from variation in the magnetic flux, it is possible to create a power generating transfer transformer which can be rotated while driving electrical current for an external load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: John James Anthony Cullen, Andrew Martin Rolt
  • Patent number: 7362004
    Abstract: A hybrid blade wind turbine device formed of at least a pair of straight outer airfoil blades, and a pair of inner helical wing blades, as supported for rotation within a safety protective cage structure, which wind turbine can be mounted in the vertical, horizontal, or other aligned operational positions. The inner helical half wing blades, being preferably somewhat shorter than the length of the outer airfoil blades, act to “regularize” the swirling wind regime flowing through the hybrid wind turbine, so as to maximize the efficiency of the outer airfoil blades. The helical half wing blades can be formed of individual segmented vane segments to provide improved operational capabilities for the overall hybrid wind turbine. To best harness annualized available wind conditions, the hybrid wind turbine can be customized, through modification of the number of vane segments, the selection of the specific shape of the outer airfoil blades, and the specific operational positioning of the outer airfoil blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: William S. Becker
  • Patent number: 7256511
    Abstract: Installation method of turbine-generator equipment controlling a turbine-generator is described. The method includes manufacturing a thyristor excitation equipment as a package including a circuit breaker, an excitation transformer, a power rectifier coupled with the excitation transformer, and an excitation control panel controlling a thyristor ignition angle of the power rectifier. After the manufacturing, positioning the thyristor excitation equipment where the power rectifier is connectable to the turbine-generator, and after the positioning, wiring between the turbine-generator and the thyristor excitation equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsumasa Tamura, Masayuki Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7215037
    Abstract: A protective wind energy conversion chamber provides a protected multiple turbine mechanism axially aligned to convert kinetic energy of a moving fluid (e.g., wind) into rotational mechanical power by the reaction of the moving fluid with the turbine. The conversion chamber may either be configured as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) or horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT). The conversion chamber repositions an intake windward to collect and concentrate the wind prior to converting the wind into energy via the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism. The remaining wind is released via a leeward-facing exhaust. Completely enclosed by the protective wind energy conversion chamber, the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism avoids interference by birds and other outside objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventor: Saverio Scalzi
  • Patent number: 7091626
    Abstract: A method for regulating a generator in a motor vehicle, in which the generator feeds a vehicle power supply system having loads and having at least one battery, with a regulator regulating the generator output voltage at the value of a nominal value voltage. In a recuperation readiness mode, the nominal value voltage is preset as a function of the driving state variables such that, during braking or when the vehicle is overrunning, electrical power is fed into the vehicle power supply system. Switching takes place between the recuperation readiness mode and a recovery mode as a function of predetermined switching conditions, with the nominal value voltage in the recovery mode being preset such that the battery is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Roland Bluemel, Wolfgang Dinser, Armin Kloepfer
  • Patent number: 7081685
    Abstract: A generator generates electricity when the generator is pressed and has a stator, a rotor, a drive shaft, a biasing member and a top cover. The rotor is mounted in the stator and has a central hole with at least one key. The drive shaft is slidably mounted in the central hole in the rotor base and has at least one spiral groove in which the at least one key on the rotor is mounted. The biasing member is mounted between the base and the drive shaft to provide a restitution force to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is pressed down manually. The top cover has a central bore through which the top of the drive shaft non-rotatably extends. Accordingly, movement of the drive shaft causes the rotor to rotate relative to the stator and generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Chun-Chen Chiu
  • Patent number: 7081738
    Abstract: A generating device that includes an AC/DC conversion unit having a rectifier circuit that rectifies an output of a magneto rotor and applies the output to a battery, and an inverter circuit that converts a voltage of the battery into an AC control voltage and applies the AC control voltage to an armature coil of the magneto generator, performs chopper control that controls switch elements of the inverter circuit so as to interrupt an output current of the magneto generator to control the output of the magneto generator when a rotational speed of the magneto generator is lower than a set speed, and performs drive control that applies the AC control voltage from the battery through the inverter circuit to the armature coil when the rotational speed becomes higher than the set speed, and changes a phase angle of the AC control voltage to control the output of the magneto generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Muramatsu, Hideaki Suzuki, Masanori Nakagawa, Masakatsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7075189
    Abstract: A wind energy conversion system optimized for offshore application. Each wind turbine includes a semi-submersible hull with ballast weight that is moveable to increase the system's stability. Each wind turbine has an array of rotors distributed on a tower to distribute weight and loads and to improve power production performance where windshear is high. As much of the equipment associated with each rotor as possible is located at the base of the tower to lower the metacentric height. The equipment that may be emplaced at the bottom of the tower could include a power electronic converter, a DC to AC converter, or the entire generator with a mechanical linkage transmitting power from each rotor to the base of the tower. Rather than transmitting electrical power back to shore, it is contemplated to create energy intensive hydrogen-based products at the base of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ocean Wind Energy Systems
    Inventors: Phyllis R. Heronemus, William Heronemus
  • Patent number: 7071578
    Abstract: A wind turbine which varies an active annular plane area by composing such that blades are attached to a cylindrical rotor movable in the radial direction of the rotor, the blades being reciprocated in the radial direction by means of a blade shifting mechanism connected to the root of each blade, or the blade itself is divided so that the outer one of the divided blade is movable in the radial direction. With the construction, the wind turbine can be operated with a maximum output within the range of evading fatigue failure of the blades and rotor by adjusting the active annular plane area in accordance with wind speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Shibata, Yoshiyuki Hayashi, Toyoaki Furukawa, Yuuji Yatomi, Eiji Kato, Yoshinari Teramoto, Hisao Miyake, Koshi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6809429
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the power output of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, wherein a motor/generator or a generator/motor is coupled to the output shaft of the engine and the positive and negative torque of the motor/generator or the generator/motor is varied to control the power output of the engine as a function of speed for all manners of performance of the vehicle. The engine operates along a predetermined ideal operating line at all speeds of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Andrew A. Frank
  • Patent number: 6747381
    Abstract: With the disclosure shaft drive device, has a PCB device (1, 1′); a rotor device (50; 5, 51) with a rotor (5) and a rotor shaft (51) attached to it; and a stator device (40) for driving the rotor (5) with the rotor shaft (51); an attachment device (60) for attaching the rotor device (50; 5, 51) and the stator device (40) to the PCB device (1, 1′) in such a way that the PCB device (5) forms part of the frame, surrounding the rotor shaft, of the shaft drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Schach, Ulrich Haspel, Guenther Ungericht, Waldemar Ernst
  • Patent number: 6717387
    Abstract: A generator apparatus such as in a cogeneration system has a controlling power supply energized with its generator output with giving no adverse effect on the waveform of its output. An inverter 13 is provided for converting an alternating current output of the engine generator 10 into a direct current and returning back by the action of its inverter circuit 133 to an alternating current of a predetermined frequency which is then connected to a power supply system 14. While the engine 11 remains not actuated, a power received from a joint between the inverter 13 and the power supply system 14 is rectified by a rectifier 141 and transferred to the controlling power supply 140. When the engine 11 is started, the power at the input of the inverter circuit 133 is transmitted to the controlling power supply 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kotani, Tomoki Fukushima, Tsutomu Wakitani
  • Patent number: 6700356
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a control signal to control an excitation level of an alternator. The system includes a first calculation element that receives first, second and third indications of first, second and third output voltages of first, second and third phases of the alternator, respectively, and calculates a first feedback signal in dependence upon the received first, second and third indications. The system additionally includes a second calculation element that receives the first indication and calculates a second feedback signal in dependence upon the received first indication. The system further includes an intermediate signal generation element that receives a target input and the first feedback signal, and in response provides an intermediate signal. The system additionally includes a control signal generation element that receives the intermediate signal and the second feedback signal, and in response provides the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Douglas W. Dorn
  • Patent number: 6683389
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle, such as a bus or delivery vehicle, includes batteries and a turbogenerator/motor connected through a double conversion control system. The batteries and the turbogenerator/motor are each connected to a DC bus through bi-directional power converters operating as customized bi-directional switching converters configured, under the control of a power controller, to provide an interface between the DC bus and the batteries and turbogenerator/motor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventor: Everett R. Geis
  • Patent number: 6680556
    Abstract: A brush holding apparatus for at least one carbon brush includes a support plate with at least one brush guide, a spring element constructed and arranged for urging a carbon brush having a longitudinal axis mounted in the brush guide in a direction towards a commutator or slip ring, and a retaining element constructed and arranged for retracting the carbon brush against a force exerted by the spring element or for releasing the brush. The retaining element is slidably supported by the base plate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a carbon brush mounted in the brush guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Schunk Metall und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventors: Bertram Menz, Matthias Domes
  • Patent number: 6469476
    Abstract: An improved motor vehicle electrical system includes a flexible topology DC-to-DC converter for coupling an engine-driven alternator to vehicle electrical loads at a mode-dependent transfer ratio. The output voltage of the alternator is regulated based the load voltage, and the converter is operable in one of a number of different modes based on engine speed, including a forward boost mode, a forward unity mode, and a forward buck mode. In the forward boost mode, the converter output voltage is boosted above that of the alternator to enable battery charging at low engine speeds; in the forward unity mode, the alternator output voltage is transferred to the battery and electrical loads at a unity transfer ratio; and in the forward buck mode, the converter output voltage is reduced below that of the alternator to enhance the alternator power output at medium-to-high engine speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred H. Barrett, Gary A. Cameron
  • Patent number: 6323563
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic power-generating system includes a power plant, a motion-generating subsystem, and a support subsystem for supporting the motion-generating subsystem in a dynamic water source such as a river. The motion-generating subsystem is configured to oscillate and pivot under hydrodynamic force to drive a rod. The power plant is configured to then convert the oscillating drive motion of the rod to electrical power. The motion-generating subsystem includes a pair of spaced beams having upstream ends and downstream ends. The spaced beams are pivotally supported within the water at the upstream ends thereof by the support subsystem. A pair of shafts are connected to and between the beams at the upstream ends and the downstream ends, respectively. A foil is pivotally disposed between the downstream ends of the beams. A trim flap is pivotally disposed at a downstream edge of the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Robert C. Kallenberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6265852
    Abstract: An excitation controller sets an output terminal reference voltage of a synchronous machine from a reactive current output from the synchronous machine and a high side reference voltage of a transformer, and controls the field current supplied to the field winding of the synchronous machine in response to the deviation between the reference voltage and the output terminal voltage. Although a conventional excitation controller can maintain the transmission voltage on the transmission bus at a fixed value, an expensive potential detector is needed for detecting the transmission voltage on the transmission bus, which increases the manufacturing cost of the excitation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitomi Kitamura, Seiichi Tanaka, Masaru Shimomura