Patents Examined by Shafiq Mian
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Patent number: 11686294Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Yasushi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 11685658Abstract: Techniques for providing carbon dioxide include generating thermal energy, an exhaust fluid, and electrical power from a power plant; providing the exhaust fluid and the generated electrical power to an exhaust fluid scrubbing system to separate components of the exhaust fluid; capturing heat from a source of heat of an industrial process in a heating fluid; transferring the heat of the industrial process captured in the heating fluid to a carbon dioxide source material of a direct air capture (DAC) system; providing the generated electrical power from the power plant to the DAC system; providing the thermal energy from the power plant to the DAC system; and separating, with the transferred portion of the heat of the industrial process and the provided thermal energy, carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source material of the DAC system.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Bryan Christopher GilroySmith, Jacques Gagne, Robert Nelson, Christopher Gregory Malone
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Patent number: 11686258Abstract: Control systems and methods suitable for combination with power production systems and methods are provided herein. The control systems and methods may be used with, for example, closed power cycles as well as semi-closed power cycles. The combined control systems and methods and power production systems and methods can provide dynamic control of the power production systems and methods that can be carried out automatically based upon inputs received by controllers and outputs from the controllers to one or more components of the power production systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: 8 Rivers Capital, LLCInventors: Jeremy Eron Fetvedt, Rodney John Allam
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Patent number: 11680518Abstract: A system for coordinated control of an engine and associated components over various engine-modes of operation. The system may include an engine, one or more components controllable to adjust operation of the diesel engine, and a system controller. The system controller may be connected to the engine and the one or more components. The system controller may include a supervisory controller and one or more component controllers. The supervisory controller may receive system control variable set points and coordinate component control variable set points for the components to achieve the system control variable set points. The component controllers may control operation of the components to achieve the control variable set points for the components by setting manipulated variable set points for the components based on the component control variable set points and a model based non-linear dynamic inversion.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.Inventors: Jaroslav Pekar, Paul Dickinson
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Patent number: 11680554Abstract: A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: LONE GULL HOLDINGS, LTD.Inventors: Garth Alexander Sheldon-Coulson, Brian Lee Moffat, Daniel William Place
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Patent number: 11680750Abstract: The system and method for a green integrated electric power plant mounted on rooftops, includes platform on which installed low body and upper body with gap. There are no rotatable parts for generating electric power except the propeller of generator which is affected by three air flows. The generator with propeller placed inside of upper body vertically. Low body has inside tube and spirals. Also low body has a few windows. Each window supplied by tangential plate for creating confined vortex. Thus one wind flow acting through low body directly on propeller, second air flow move warm air flow from source of warm air such as laundry or boiler room of building through conduit, inner tube and multiple Venturi tubes also act as a propeller. Third wind air flow moves perpendicular to vertical axes of generator and goes through gap between low body and upper body directly on propeller.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Inventor: Iosif Gaportsin
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Patent number: 11680541Abstract: Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A bypass valve, positioned on a bypass pipeline connecting the supply pipeline to the return pipeline, may be adjusted to a position sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of gas above a threshold based on the inlet and outlet temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: ICE Thermal Harvesting, LLCInventors: Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Carrie Jeanne Murtland
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Patent number: 11668204Abstract: An electrical power generation system including a micro-turbine alternator. The micro-turbine alternator including: a combustion chamber, at least one turbine driven by combustion gases from the combustion chamber, a first stage compressor, and a second stage compressor. The first stage compressor and the second stage compressor being operably connected to the combustion chamber to provide a compressed airflow thereto. The micro-turbine alternator including one or more shafts connecting the at least one turbine to the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor such that rotation of the at least one turbine drives rotation of the first stage compressor and second stage compressor. The one or more shafts include a turbine shaft attached to the at least one turbine a compressor shaft attached to the first stage compressor, and a coupling assembly configured to operably connect the turbine shaft to the compressor shaft via a magnetic coupling force.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
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Patent number: 11668288Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2022Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Ryan N. Ruzicka, Yasushi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 11661916Abstract: Disclosed herein are wave energy harnessing devices including a first movable device configured to translate in response to a level change in a water body, a first float gear configured to rotate in in response to translation of the first movable device, a first input shaft rotatably driven by the first float gear in response to rotation of the first float gear, an output shaft restricted to rotation in a first direction, and a pair of one-way clutches coupled to the first input shaft and the output shaft and configured to operatively couple the first input shaft to the output shaft in response to rotation of the first input shaft either in the first direction or in a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: LDI CONSULTING INC.Inventors: Filippo D. Padula, Michael A. Schwartz, Hugo Freitas Pimentel
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Patent number: 11655804Abstract: A thermally driven elastocaloric system and a method for generating at least one of a heating potential and a cooling potential are provided. The thermally driven elastocaloric system includes a first shape memory alloy (SMA) member, a second shape memory alloy (SMA) member, and a connection mechanism configured between the distal end of the first SMA member and the distal end of the second SMA member. The connection mechanism is configured to transfer a force between the first SMA member and the second SMA member. The transfer of a compressive force to an SMA member may generate a heating potential in the SMA member, and the transfer of a tensile force to an SMA member may generate a cooling potential in the SMA member. Whether a compressive force or a tensile force is transferred may be dependent on whether heat is transferred to or from a SMA member.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventor: Michel Grabon
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Patent number: 11649808Abstract: A multi-stable actuator includes a first superelastic-shape memory alloy (SE-SMA) wire extending between a first fixed support and a movable element and a second SE-SMA wire extending between a second fixed support and the movable element. The first SE-SMA wire is in tension against the second SE-SMA wire and the second SE-SMA wire is in tension against the first SE-SMA wire. The multi-stable actuator also includes at least one heating device configured to heat the first SE-SMA wire independent of the second SE-SMA wire and to heat the second SE-SMA wire independent of the first SE-SMA wire such that the movable element moves between and to at least three fixed positions without use of a brake or clutch.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., MIGA Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryohei Tsuruta, Umesh N. Gandhi, Shardul Singh Panwar, Paul A. Gilmore, Brian J. Pinkelman, Mark A. Gummin, Brian J. Stasey
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Patent number: 11641811Abstract: A spraying and re-heating vapor reactor includes: a heat preservation boiler; a vapor reaction boiler disposed in the heat preservation boiler; a re-heating conduit communicating the vapor reaction boiler with a device outside the heat preservation boiler, a high heat capacity material being accommodated within the heat preservation boiler, and surrounding the vapor reaction boiler and the re-heating conduit; a heater heating the high heat capacity material; a sprayer disposed in the vapor reaction boiler; and a liquid supplying tube communicating with the sprayer through structure walls of the heat preservation boiler and the vapor reaction boiler, and supplying an external liquid to the sprayer. The sprayer atomizes the external liquid into an atomized liquid absorbing thermal energy from the high heat capacity material and becomes a low-temperature vapor entering the re-heating conduit and being re-heated into a high-temperature vapor. A generator apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignees: BIG SUN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventor: Chia Ching Luo
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Patent number: 11635057Abstract: A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: LONE GULL HOLDINGS, LTD.Inventors: Garth Alexander Sheldon-Coulson, Brian Lee Moffat, Daniel William Place
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Patent number: 11635021Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft comprises an engine core comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, wherein a compressor exit temperature is defined as an average temperature of airflow at the exit from the compressor; and a fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, each fan blade having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein a fan rotor entry temperature is defined as an average temperature of airflow across the leading edge of each fan blade at cruise conditions and a fan tip rotor exit temperature is defined as an average temperature of airflow across a radially outer portion of each fan blade at the trailing edge at cruise conditions. A core to fan tip temperature rise ratio is in the range from 2.845 to 3.8.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Craig W Bemment, Pascal Dunning
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Patent number: 11635205Abstract: Plastic-powered power generator. In an embodiment, the plastic-powered power generator comprises a primary reactor with an air-fuel distribution assembly configured to supply fluidized polymer, air, and oxidizer to a primary reactor chamber, and an ignition system configured to ignite a mixture of the fluidized polymer, air, and oxidizer. The primary reactor chamber extends into a secondary reactor, to, when ignited, heat air flowing through the secondary reactor from a blower to a heat exchanger. The heated air flow converts fluid, in a coil within the heat exchanger, into steam, which can drive a turbine to generate electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Inventor: Daniel Caris
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Patent number: 11629668Abstract: A gas turbine engine including: a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, a high pressure compressor coupled to the high pressure turbine by a high pressure shaft, a propulsor and a low pressure compressor coupled to the low pressure turbine via a low pressure shaft and a reduction gearbox; wherein the high pressure compressor defines an average stage pressure ratio at cruise conditions of between 1.25 and 1.35 and consists of 10 or 11 stages; and the high pressure compressor and low pressure compressor together define a core overall pressure ratio at cruise conditions of between 40:1 and 60:1.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J Bousfield, Michael O Hales, Rory D Stieger
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Patent number: 11631992Abstract: The disclosure relates to particle heaters for heating solid particles to store electrical energy as thermal energy. Thermal energy storage directly converts off-peak electricity into heat for thermal energy storage, which may be converted back to electricity, for example during peak-hour power generation. The particle heater is an integral part of an electro-thermal energy storage system, as it enables the conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy. As described herein, particle heater designs are described that provide efficient heating of solid particles in an efficient and compact configuration to achieve high energy density and low cost.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Purdue Research FoundationInventors: Zhiwen Ma, Jeffrey Clayton Gifford, Patrick Gordon Davenport, Dening Jia, Jason Schirck, Aaron Morris
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Patent number: 11624341Abstract: A system and method of integrating an engine having dynamic skip fire control with an exhaust gas recirculation system in a turbocharged internal combustion engine is described. An engine control system determines an appropriate firing pattern based at least in part on a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow rate. Signals from sensors in the intake manifold and exhaust system may also be used as part of a feedback loop to determine a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2022Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., Cummins Inc.Inventors: Xin Yuan, Shikui Kevin Chen, Jennifer K. Light-Holets, Scott R. Bardakjy
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Patent number: 11613998Abstract: A turbine engine includes integrated electric machines in the compressor section and the turbine section to supplement power produced from fuel with electric power. The example compressor section includes a compressor electric motor that is coupled to a compressor generator. The example turbine section includes a turbine electric motor that is coupled to the geared architecture to supplement power driving the fan section. A turbine generator provides electric power to the turbine electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Zubair Ahmed Baig, Gary Collopy, Coy Bruce Wood