Patents by Inventor Benjamin D. Sumers
Benjamin D. Sumers 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).
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Patent number: 9982722Abstract: The present invention relates to transferring torque between a first unit, which is typically a mobile machine or a robot, and a second unit, which is typically a fixed or stationary machine. The units are arranged such that a drive coupler of the first unit designed for delivering torque about a drive axis can engage the driven coupler, which belongs to the second unit and has a driven axis, along an engagement direction that is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the driven axis. A lateral displacement mechanism in provided is the first unit to achieve a first-order coaxial alignment between the drive and driven axes. Additional measures such as compliance mechanisms are provided for improving engagement, coupling and reducing the level of axial misalignment in the apparatus and methods of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: SolarCity CorporationInventors: Daniel I. Fukuba, Benjamin D. Sumers, Jeremy P. Dittmer, Merritt J. Jenkins, Kevin C. Chu, Vayardo L. Ruiz
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Patent number: 9689957Abstract: A solar tracking system and method that use a tube that admits solar radiation and one or more photodetectors for generating a signal related to an intensity of solar radiation at a distal end of the tube. The system has a scan unit for periodically executing a certain scan pattern in an elevation angle El and in an azimuth angle Az of the shielding tube. A processing unit in communication with the photodetector determines an on-sun orientation of the shielding tube based on a convolution of the signal obtained while executing the scan pattern with a trained convolution kernel. The on-sun orientation thus found can be used to update the orientation of one or more solar surfaces, e.g., reflective or photovoltaic surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: SolarCity CorporationInventors: Jos C. Goble, Salomon J. Trujillo, Benjamin D. Sumers, Christopher O. Perkins
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Patent number: 9428198Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle defines a pivot location against the bearing surface and a constraint point on the contact surface for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created result in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: SolarCity CorporationInventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
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Publication number: 20160082980Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle defines a pivot location against the bearing surface and a constraint point on the contact surface for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created result in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
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Patent number: 9222523Abstract: Techniques for transferring torque between a first unit, such as a mobile machine or a robot, and a second unit, such as a fixed or stationary machine. The units are arranged such that a drive coupler of the first unit designed for delivering torque about a drive axis can engage the driven coupler, which belongs to the second unit and has a driven axis, along an engagement direction that is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the driven axis. A lateral displacement mechanism of the first unit achieves a first-order coaxial alignment between the drive and driven axes. Additional measures are provided for improving engagement, coupling and reducing the level of axial misalignment. Techniques disclosed are tolerant of imprecise alignment between the drive and driven couplers.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: SOLARCITY, INC.Inventors: Daniel I. Fukuba, Benjamin D. Sumers, Jeremy P. Dittmer, Merritt J. Jenkins, Kevin C. Chu, Vayardo L. Ruiz
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Patent number: 9221471Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle defines a pivot location against the bearing surface and a constraint point on the contact surface for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created result in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: SOLARCITY, INC.Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
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Publication number: 20150298708Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle defines a pivot location against the bearing surface and a constraint point on the contact surface for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rr1 from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created result in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
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Publication number: 20150260825Abstract: A solar tracking system and method that use a tube that admits solar radiation and one or more photodetectors for generating a signal related to an intensity of solar radiation at a distal end of the tube. The system has a scan unit for periodically executing a certain scan pattern in an elevation angle El and in an azimuth angle Az of the shielding tube. A processing unit in communication with the photodetector determines an on-sun orientation of the shielding tube based on a convolution of the signal obtained while executing the scan pattern with a trained convolution kernel. The on-sun orientation thus found can be used to update the orientation of one or more solar surfaces, e.g., reflective or photovoltaic surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Jos C. Goble, Salomon J. Trujillo, Benjamin D. Sumers, Christopher O. Perkins
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Publication number: 20150217788Abstract: The present invention teaches a monorail vehicle apparatus and method for controlling roll attitude, lateral location, and loading of a monorail vehicle traveling on a non-featured rail exhibiting substantial profile variation by the placement of the vehicle's center of gravity and without the use of additional mechanisms such as springs or suspensions. The design is especially well adapted for travelling along curves by using at least two trucks connected by a linkage mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley, Kevin T. Mori, Daniel I. Fukuba, Wasiq Bokhari, Vayardo L. Ruiz
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Patent number: 8950336Abstract: Monorail vehicle that travels on a non-featured rail with substantial profile variation and controls roll attitude, lateral location, and loading through judicious placement of the vehicle's center of gravity without using springs or suspensions. The vehicle has a bogie for engaging the non-featured rail so the center of gravity has a lateral offset r1 from the rail centerline to produce a roll moment Nr determined by vehicle's mass and value of r1. The center of gravity also has a vertical offset r2. The bogie uses first and second assemblies for engaging the rail to produce a pair of surface normal reaction forces to thus control roll attitude and loading by the placement of the center of gravity, thereby enabling accurate alignment of the monorail vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley, Kevin T. Mori, Daniel I. Fukuba, Wasiq Bokhari
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Patent number: 8939085Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle has a structure defining a pivot location against the bearing surface, as well as first and second assemblies for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
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Publication number: 20150013487Abstract: The present invention relates to transferring torque between a first unit, such as a mobile machine or a robot, and a second unit, such as a fixed or stationary machine. The units are arranged such that a drive coupler of the first unit designed for delivering torque about a drive axis can engage the driven coupler, which belongs to the second unit and has a driven axis, along an engagement direction that is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the driven axis. A lateral displacement mechanism of the first unit achieves a first-order coaxial alignment between the drive and driven axes. Additional measures are provided for improving engagement, coupling and reducing the level of axial misalignment. The invention further pertains to a dual-mode torque delivery apparatus tolerant of imprecise alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel I. Fukuba, Benjamin D. Sumers, Jeremy P. Dittmer, Merritt J. Jenkins, Kevin C. Chu, Vayardo L. Ruiz
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Publication number: 20150014114Abstract: The present invention relates to transferring torque between a first unit, which is typically a mobile machine or a robot, and a second unit, which is typically a fixed or stationary machine. The units are arranged such that a drive coupler of the first unit designed for delivering torque about a drive axis can engage the driven coupler, which belongs to the second unit and has a driven axis, along an engagement direction that is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the driven axis. A lateral displacement mechanism in provided is in the first unit to achieve a first-order coaxial alignment between the drive and driven axes. Additional measures such as compliance mechanisms are provided for improving engagement, coupling and reducing the level of axial misalignment in the apparatus and methods of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel I. Fukuba, Benjamin D. Sumers, Jeremy P. Dittmer, Merritt J. Jenkins, Kevin C. Chu, Vayardo L. Ruiz
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Patent number: 8878113Abstract: A solar tracking system and method that use a shielding tube that admits solar radiation and has an absorptive inner surface for absorbing the solar radiation that is incident on it. The system has a photodetector for generating a signal related to an intensity of solar radiation at a distal end of the shielding tube and a scan unit for periodically executing a certain scan pattern in an elevation angle El and in an azimuth angle Az of the shielding tube. A processing unit in communication with the photodetector determines an on-sun orientation of the shielding tube based on a convolution of the signal obtained while executing the scan pattern with a trained convolution kernel. The on-sun orientation thus found can be used to update the orientation of one or more solar surfaces, e.g., reflective or photovoltaic surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: Jos C. Goble, Salomon J. Trujillo, Benjamin D. Sumers, Christopher O. Perkins
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Publication number: 20140230686Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with a bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle has a structure defining a pivot location against the bearing surface, as well as first and second assemblies for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created results in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
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Publication number: 20140174315Abstract: Monorail vehicle that travels on a non-featured rail with substantial profile variation and controls roll attitude, lateral location, and loading through judicious placement of the vehicle's center of gravity without using springs or suspensions. The vehicle has a bogie for engaging the non-featured rail so the center of gravity has a lateral offset r1 from the rail centerline to produce a roll moment Nr determined by vehicle's mass and value of r1. The center of gravity also has a vertical offset r2. The bogie uses first and second assemblies for engaging the rail to produce a pair of surface normal reaction forces to thus control roll attitude and loading by the placement of the center of gravity, thereby enabling accurate alignment of the monorail vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: QBotix, Inc.Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley, Kevin T. Mori, Daniel l. Fukuba, Wasiq Bokhari
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Publication number: 20130320189Abstract: A solar tracking system and method that use a shielding tube that admits solar radiation and has an absorptive inner surface for absorbing the solar radiation that is incident on it. The system has a photodetector for generating a signal related to an intensity of solar radiation at a distal end of the shielding tube and a scan unit for periodically executing a certain scan pattern in an elevation angle El and in an azimuth angle Az of the shielding tube. A processing unit in communication with the photodetector determines an on-sun orientation of the shielding tube based on a convolution of the signal obtained while executing the scan pattern with a trained convolution kernel. The on-sun orientation thus found can be used to update the orientation of one or more solar surfaces, e.g., reflective or photovoltaic surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Jos C. Goble, Salomon J. Trujillo, Benjamin D. Sumers, Christopher O. Perkins