Patents Examined by Shafiq Mian
  • Patent number: 11472325
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to improving an actuator for a support system of a seat. In one embodiment, an actuator includes a body that is bi-stable with a coiled state and an uncoiled state. The actuator also includes a strip, coupled to the body, that coils the body according to heat caused by a power source. The actuator also includes a wire coupled to a side of the body opposite from the strip and the wire uncoils the body in response to heating caused by the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Tsuruta, Brian J. Pinkelman, Umesh N. Gandhi, Paul A. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 11473451
    Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of a Rankine cycle by reducing cold end loss, comprising: for a Rankine cycle with a reheat-cycle, reducing temperature of reheat steam or removing a reheat steam system, and for a Rankine cycle with regenerative steam extraction-heat, reducing temperature of main steam and increasing humidity of main steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING CYNERTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11473509
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: 8 Rivers Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Eron Fetvedt, Rodney John Allam
  • Patent number: 11466671
    Abstract: A hinge-type actuator device in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first and second paddle, a first and second artificial muscle actuator segment, and a plurality of contacts, where the first and second artificial muscle actuator segments are actuated via the contacts, actuation of the first artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to open the hinge-type actuator, and actuation of the second artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to dose the hinge-type actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LINTEC OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Marcio Dias Lima, Yang Yang, Luis Plata, Marilu Guerrero, Franklin Le, Randy Allen
  • Patent number: 11459944
    Abstract: There is provided a thermal energy storage system, comprising at least two thermal storage masses, wherein an inner thermal storage mass (48) is contained within an outer thermal storage mass (49). A pump or compressor (42) forces a compressible fluid around the system. A first storage mass heat exchanger (50) has a first side in fluid communication with the pump or compressor (42), and a second side in contact with the outer thermal storage mass (49). A second storage mass heat exchanger (51) has a first side in fluid communication with the first side of the first storage mass heat exchanger (50), and a second side in contact with the inner thermal storage mass (48). A turbine (43) has a turbine inlet in fluid communication with the first side of the second storage mass heat exchanger (51), and a turbine outlet. An electrical generator is driven by the turbine (43). The system further comprises a thermal store (52) containing a thermal store medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
    Inventor: Adam Robinson
  • Patent number: 11460010
    Abstract: A remote actuator includes one or more bi-stable strips with at least one shape memory composite (SMC) spring connected to each bi-stable strip. The SMC spring includes a thermoplastic and an electrical and/or thermal conductor for transforming the length of the SMC spring upon heating. The contraction of the SMC spring transforms the bi-stable strip from its coiled stable state to its elongated stable state. The displacement of the SMC spring can be amplified by a simple machine included in the remote actuator. The remote actuator can include a shape memory alloy (SMA) strip for transforming the bi-stable strip from its elongated stable state to it curved stable state upon heating. Heating can be by Joule heating or from an adjacent heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Tsuruta, Brian J. Pinkelman, Umesh N. Gandhi, Paul A. Gilmore, Mark E. Smith, Eric D. Smith, Shardul Singh Panwar
  • Patent number: 11460009
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate to a manner of improving an actuator used to hold an object. In one embodiment, an actuator includes a body that is bi-stable with a coiled state and an uncoiled state. The actuator also includes a strip, coupled to the body, that coils the body according to a power source that activates in response to a detected proximity of an object. The actuator also includes a wire coupled to a side of the body opposite from the strip and the wire uncoils the body in response to heat caused by the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Tsuruta, Shardul Singh Panwar, Umesh N. Gandhi, Brian J. Pinkelman, Paul A. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 11462939
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system is positionable at an ocean surface to harvest energy from a hydrothermal vent surrounded by cooler ocean water. The system includes an energy storage device positionable proximate to the ocean surface. A cable capable of conducting electrical energy is joined to the energy storage device. An energy harvesting structure is joined to provide electrical energy to the cable. The energy harvesting structure can be positioned proximate to the hydrothermal vent to harvest energy therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Kuklinski, Anthony A Ruffa
  • Patent number: 11454465
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a load bearing direct-drive system and a variable process control system for efficiently managing the operation of fans in a cooling system such as a wet-cooling tower, air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE), HVAC system, blowers and centrifugal blowers, mechanical towers or chiller systems. In one embodiment, the load bearing direct-drive system comprises a load bearing torque multiplier device having an output rotatable shaft connected to a fan, and a load bearing motor comprising a rotatable shaft that drives the load bearing torque multiplier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: PRIME DATUM DEVELOPMENT CO., LLC
    Inventors: Patrick M. Rollins, George M. Lucas
  • Patent number: 11454167
    Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Patent number: 11454221
    Abstract: Broadly speaking, the present techniques provide specific arrangements of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator wires in SMA actuation apparatuses. In one arrangement, a single straight shape memory alloy actuator wire may be used, which may be inclined at an acute angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to a plane normal to the movement direction. In another arrangement, two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire may be used, where the SMA wires may be inclined at an acute angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to a plane normal to the movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Matthew Bunting, Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, Marc-Sebastian Scholz, James Howarth
  • Patent number: 11454426
    Abstract: An apparatus, which may be operated as a heat engine and/or a heat pump, includes moveable separators at a cold side and/or moveable separators at a hot side. Each separator divides a volume into two smaller volumes. Working fluid may be sequentially filled and emptied from volumes between the separators. The separators may move to maintain uniform pressure in the volumes. Hot-side separators may allow for near adiabatic compression/expansion of working fluid. Cold-side separators may allow for near adiabatic expansion/compression of working fluid. Two displacers are positioned between the cold-side separators and the hot-side separators. The displacers are independently actuatable to force working fluid into and out of the volumes between separators and into and out of a variable intermediate volume between the displacers. Heat exchangers, including a warming heat exchanger, are provided to heat, cool, and warm working fluid as it flows between separated volumes and the intermediate volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Ronald Alan Hurst
  • Patent number: 11448229
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing an annular space between a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface. The annular space has high pressure zones and low pressure zones. The seal assembly has an annular seal with an inner surface that faces the second cylindrical component, an outer surface that faces the first cylindrical component, a sealing end and an engagement end. A seal actuator assembly applies a force to the engagement end of the annular seal to urge the annular seal in a first direction towards an engaged position within the annular space. The force applied to the engagement end of the annular seal has a first component aligned with the first direction and a second component that is perpendicular to the first direction. The first component is at least 1.7 times greater than the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Jody Madoche
  • Patent number: 11448118
    Abstract: A two-stage turbocharged internal combustion engine comprises a low-pressure stage turbocharger mounted at a first end side of an engine block and a high-pressure stage turbocharger mounted at the same first end side of the engine block. The respective turbochargers are mounted via a mounting structure, Which also accommodates the charge air coolers associated with the turbochargers. In order to obtain a compact arrangement and reduce a length of pipe connections between the different components, the different charge air coolers are mounted to mounting structure such that they overlap in a plan view of the internal combustion engine. Further, flow directions of charge air in the different charge air coolers are opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Sturm, Markus Krueger, Torben Gravert, Jan Borchardt, Udo Wachtel, Helge Seidel, Volker Abraham, Ole Ehlert
  • Patent number: 11448129
    Abstract: An inlet air heating system for a gas turbine system includes an inlet heat exchanger configured to be positioned upstream of a compressor of the gas turbine system. The inlet air heating system also includes a heating loop fluidly coupled to the inlet heat exchanger. The heating loop is configured to provide heating fluid to the inlet heat exchanger, and the inlet heat exchanger is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the heating fluid to an airflow into the compressor. Furthermore, the inlet air heating system includes a heat transfer assembly configured to receive cooling tower fluid from a fluid pathway extending between a steam condenser and a cooling tower. The heat transfer assembly is configured to facilitate transfer of heat from the cooling tower fluid to the heating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Peter Feher
  • Patent number: 11448199
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy actuator assembly comprises a first part, including a surface, a second part which moves relative to the first part across the surface and a resilient biasing element that biases the second part into contact with the first part so as to generate frictional forces therebetween for retaining the second part on the surface. At least one shape memory alloy actuator wire is connected between the first part and the second part and arranged to, on contraction thereof, apply a force to the second part with a component parallel to the surface that drives movement of the second part relative to the first part across the surface. Thus, the second part is retained on the surface when no power is applied to the shape memory alloy wire, and movement is achieved when power is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cambridge Mechatronics Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, Peter Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 11441548
    Abstract: An actuator includes a strand of shape memory material having a length that is variable between a first length corresponding to an undeformed state and a second length corresponding to a state of lengthwise deformation. The strand is arranged to return to the undeformed state when it is heated to a predetermined temperature. The strand includes a fixed end and a mobile end arranged to move between a first and a second position when the variable length of the SMM strand changes. The actuator further includes a heating wire coiled around the strand for heating the strand, the coiled heating wire forming a circular helix, the uniform slope of which is selected so as to avoid any substantial change of the arc length of the circular helix caused by the strand changing its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ALMATECH SA
    Inventors: Luc Blecha, Gabriel Paciotti
  • Patent number: 11441519
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Yuan, Shikui Kevin Chen, Jennifer K. Light-Holets, Scott R. Bardakjy
  • Patent number: 11428441
    Abstract: A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir and is entirely subsurface. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Strabo Engineering, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Holtzman
  • Patent number: 11421605
    Abstract: A duct for evacuating hot air from an aircraft engine is extended by a movable stack that can project from the wall such that the hot air is ejected a distance from the wall without risk of damaging the wall. The stack can, however, be retracted by a control device under circumstances of moderate engine speed, with the advantage that the drag of the wall, generally an outer nacelle, is then reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Christian Haddad, Daniel De Barros Soares, Claude Pierre Joannès Dupin, Bastien Pierre Verdier