Patents by Inventor Alfred Permuy

Alfred Permuy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230412059
    Abstract: Provided is an electric stabiliser for stabilising a floating structure that includes a track for guiding a mover as a moving stabiliser mass. A direct current (DC) linear motor includes a planar stator that extends along the track and the mover that is adapted to move forwards and backwards along the track as the stabiliser mass. The planar stator includes a polyphase stator winding with winding coils connected. The mover includes permanent motor magnets facing the polyphase stator winding that define mover poles of alternating polarity along the track direction. Two active magnetic bearings is positioned between the track and a main body of the mover for selectively levitating the mover. In use, the active magnetic bearings levitate the mover above the track and the DC linear motor is controlled to move the mover backwards and forwards along the track to dampen a rolling/pitching movement of the floating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lionel DURANTAY, Christophe GROSSELIN, Alfred PERMUY, Kevin SCHMISSER
  • Patent number: 11108236
    Abstract: An electrical energy storage module is provided. The storage module includes a reversible electrical energy conversion device intended to be connected to an electrical energy source and an electrical energy storage device. The storage device includes a first branch including two filter capacitors in series, and a second branch including two identical electrical energy storage means connected in series. A node common to the two capacitors and a node common to the two energy storage means are coupled by an impedance. A first end of the first and second branches is connected to the electrical energy conversion device, and a second end of the first and second branches is connected to the electrical energy conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Samir Soua, Alfred Permuy
  • Publication number: 20200044452
    Abstract: An electrical energy storage module is provided. The storage module includes a reversible electrical energy conversion device intended to be connected to an electrical energy source and an electrical energy storage device. The storage device includes a first branch including two filter capacitors in series, and a second branch including two identical electrical energy storage means connected in series. A node common to the two capacitors and a node common to the two energy storage means are coupled by an impedance. A first end of the first and second branches is connected to the electrical energy conversion device, and a second end of the first and second branches is connected to the electrical energy conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Samir Soua, Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 10224829
    Abstract: A drive train comprising an electric machine including a rotor and a stator, the stator being electrically connected to an alternating grid and having a stator frequency, and a bidirectional system for converting an alternating current into another alternating current. The conversion system is connected between the grid and the rotor, and comprises an ac/dc converter connected to the network, and an inverter connected between the ac/dc converter and the rotor, the inverter and the rotor being interconnected at an intermediate point for each phase of the alternating voltage. The drive train comprises a band-stop filter for a target interval of between 0.6 times the stator frequency and 1.4 times the stator frequency, said band-stop filter being connected between the intermediate points and attenuating the voltage at the intermediate point for the frequencies of the target interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 10170895
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit for a corona ignition system is provided. The circuit includes an inductor and capacitor connected to one end of a secondary winding of an RF transformer. The other end of the secondary winding is connected to a current sensor which is connected to ground. The transformer also has a primary winding with one end connected to a voltage supply and the other end attached to a pair of switches. The windings are wound around a core. Current flowing from the DC voltage supply to the switches causes a magnetic flux in the core. A voltage is generated on the secondary winding by the current that flows through the igniter. This voltage is fed back to the switches, controlling on and off timing. Voltage is provided to the corona igniter or pulled from the igniter when the current traveling into or from the igniter is at zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Hampton, Alfred Permuy, John Antony Burrows
  • Patent number: 9887697
    Abstract: A drive circuit including a first transformer unit in connection with a pulse amplifier module and a second transformer unit in connection with a plurality of power semiconductor groups, each group containing one or more power devices. The first transformer unit includes at least one primary transformer configured to receive a current pulse at a primary winding from a current pulse generation module, the current pulse being reflected to a secondary winding. The second transformer unit includes a plurality of secondary transformers where each secondary transformer is configured to receive the current pulse at a primary winding thereof, the current pulse being reflected to a secondary winding coupled to a pulse receiver module. The first and second transformer units reduce parasitic coupling between the pulse receiver module and the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Lee, Luke Anthony Solomon, Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9812922
    Abstract: An active magnetic bearing comprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuators, each actuator receiving for control thereof an input current and being able to exert a radial force on a shaft of a rotary machine, with respect to the rotation axis of said shaft, the shaft being able to be held without contact between the electromagnetic actuators and to undergo radial motion when it is in rotation, means for supplying input current of each actuator, the supply means comprising means for controlling the input current of each actuator, according to the position of the shaft with respect to the actuators. The supply means comprise means for damping the radial motion of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9641100
    Abstract: A system for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes input terminals and output terminals, switching members disposed between the terminals which can convert voltage, and a device for controlling the switching members. The device includes a cell for controlling a switching member, and a member for managing and supplying the control cell. The member is connected to the control cell by a link allowing the simultaneous transmission of a control signal and electrical energy. The member includes a device for generating a pulse, and which includes at least two different control intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Publication number: 20160344166
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit for a corona ignition system is provided. The circuit includes an inductor and capacitor connected to one end of a secondary winding of an RF transformer. The other end of the secondary winding is connected to a current sensor which is connected to ground. The transformer also has a primary winding with one end connected to a voltage supply and the other end attached to a pair of switches. The windings are wound around a core. Current flowing from the DC voltage supply to the switches causes a magnetic flux in the core. A voltage is generated on the secondary winding by the current that flows through the igniter. This voltage is fed back to the switches, controlling on and off timing. Voltage is provided to the corona igniter or pulled from the igniter when the current traveling into or from the igniter is at zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Keith Hampton, Alfred Permuy, John Antony Burrows
  • Publication number: 20160329889
    Abstract: A drive circuit including a first transformer unit in connection with a pulse amplifier module and a second transformer unit in connection with a plurality of power semiconductor groups, each group containing one or more power devices. The first transformer unit includes at least one primary transformer configured to receive a current pulse at a primary winding from a current pulse generation module, the current pulse being reflected to a secondary winding. The second transformer unit includes a plurality of secondary transformers where each secondary transformer is configured to receive the current pulse at a primary winding thereof, the current pulse being reflected to a secondary winding coupled to a pulse receiver module. The first and second transformer units reduce parasitic coupling between the pulse receiver module and the control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph LEE, Luke Anthony SOLOMON, Alfred PERMUY
  • Patent number: 9467064
    Abstract: A system for converting a first electric voltage into a second electric voltage, comprising: at least two input terminals and two output terminals; and switching members disposed between the terminals, which can convert the first voltage into the second voltage. At least one switching member comprises at least two arms connected in parallel and each arm includes an electronic switch that can be controlled such as to occupy either an on-state or an off-state, said switch comprising a control electrode and two conduction electrodes that conduct current in the on-state. The switching member comprises a common control terminal connected to the control electrode of the switch of each arm, as well as a first common conduction terminal and a second common conduction terminal connected respectively to a first conduction electrode and a second conduction electrode of the switch of each of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9444361
    Abstract: A mechanical arrangement of a multilevel power converter circuit includes a power converter having a first portion with a plurality of first control inputs, at least three direct current voltage inputs, and an alternating current voltage output, and a second portion with a plurality of second control inputs, the at least three direct current voltage inputs and the alternating current voltage output. The second portion is split apart from the first portion. The power converter has at least three levels corresponding to the at least three direct current voltage inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GE Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfred Permuy, Nicholas D. Benavides
  • Patent number: 9413314
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit that has an inductor and capacitor connected to one end of the output winding of an RF transformer. The other end of the output winding is connected to a current sensor that in turn is connected to ground. The transformer has two primary windings. Both primary windings have one end connected to a voltage supply. The other end of each primary winding is attached to a switch. All three windings are wound around a core. Current flowing from the DC voltage supply to the switches causes a magnetic flux in the core. A voltage is generated on the secondary winding current sensor by the current that flows through the igniter. This voltage is fed back to the switches, controlling on and off timing. Voltage is provided to the igniter or pulled from the igniter when the current traveling into or from the igniter is at zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventors: Keith Hampton, Alfred Permuy, John Antony Burrows
  • Patent number: 9387481
    Abstract: A rotary drum apparatus comprising a drum rotatable around a longitudinal axis, and at least one electric motor for driving the drum in rotation around the longitudinal axis, each drive motor comprising a stator and a rotor, the rotor comprising at least one ring portion joint together with the drum and extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The stator of each drive motor extending against a part of circumference of the drum perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9356533
    Abstract: A drive train comprising an electric machine including a rotor and a stator, the stator being connected to an alternating grid and having a stator frequency, and a bidirectional system for converting an alternating current into another alternating current. The conversion system is connected between the grid and the rotor, and comprises an AC-DC converter connected to the grid, an inverter connected between the AC-DC converter and the rotor, and a device for controlling switches of the inverter according to a control law. The control law is such that the active power exchanged by the inverter with the rotor is essentially always lower than 0.3 times the nominal power of the direct current specifically circulating between the AC-DC converter and the inverter, for the frequencies of a target interval of between 0.6 times the stator frequency and 1.4 times the stator frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9312705
    Abstract: A method of balancing voltages in a group of capacitors of a power electronic device, such as a multilevel power inverter, includes making a balancing determination regarding whether to (i) inject energy into the selected one of the capacitors from an energy storage element, or (ii) extract energy from the selected one of the capacitors into the energy storage element based on the voltage of a selected one of the capacitors, and either injecting energy into the selected one of the capacitors from the energy storage element, or extracting energy from the selected one of the capacitors into the energy storage element based on the balancing determination. Also, a voltage balancing circuit that implements the method. In one particular implementation, a spatial second derivative algorithm is used. In another particular implementation, a comparison to an average capacitor voltage is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventors: Alfred Permuy, Luke Solomon
  • Patent number: 9225255
    Abstract: A power supply system for supplying electrical power to a load is capable of delivering an output voltage to the load from an input voltage coming from an electric power network. The power supply system includes: at least two input terminals and at least two output terminals, the input terminals being adapted to be connected to the electric power network and the output terminals being adapted to be connected to the load, a converter capable of converting the input voltage into the output voltage, the converter being connected between the input terminals and the output terminals, and a device for limiting the homopolar current that is likely to flow between the electric power network and the load. The device for limiting the homopolar current comprises a transformer connected in parallel with respect to the converter, between the input terminals and the output terminals, the transformer having a first electromagnetic coil and a second electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9093426
    Abstract: A semi-conductor electronic device for mounting in a pressed stack assembly. The device comprises a box comprising a lower plate, an upper plate and a lateral wall mechanically connecting the lower plate to the upper plate, the lower and upper plates being electrically conductive, several semi-conductor components, each component comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrodes being electrically connected to the lower plate and the second electrodes being electrically connected to the upper plate, and elastic parts positioned between the components and a supporting plate chosen from the lower plate and the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9042130
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion system that includes a first transformer adapted to be connected to an AC network, the first transformer including a first primary winding and two first secondary windings, and two power converters, each being connected to a first respective secondary winding. The system further includes a second transformer and a secondary electrical device, the second transformer including a second primary winding and two second secondary windings, each second secondary winding being connected to a respective first secondary winding, and the secondary device being connected to the second primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Publication number: 20150131349
    Abstract: A system including a multi-level power converter is provided. The system also includes a plurality of DC link capacitors and a balancing circuit coupled to the multi-level power converter. The balancing circuit further includes two sets of interface branches. Each set includes a plurality of interface branches and a plurality of switching elements. The balancing circuit also includes a battery coupled to one or more inductors across the two sets of interface branches and a controller for controlling switching operations of the plurality of switching elements for modifying a voltage of the battery to balance voltages of the plurality of DC link capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Silvio Colombi, Rajendra Naik, Luke Anthony Solomon, Siddharth Pant, Alfred Permuy