Patents by Inventor Christopher N. Tupper

Christopher N. Tupper 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: 20130181688
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for advantageously using field-controlled high-frequency alternators for the generation of controlled high-voltage DC power from variable speed mechanical power sources such as wind turbines, water wheels, and gas or steam turbines. The production of controlled high-voltage DC power without involving hard switching of the full output power is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: RAVEN ENERGY ALTERNATIVES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 8076814
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging and exciting the stator, rotor and various windings of a multi-stage brushless high frequency alternator so that the resulting multiple high frequency sub-phase armature winding outputs can be rectified and commutated into desired phases of power-frequency alternating current (AC) electrical output, including single-phase, split-phase, three-phase and other multiple phase output. Power frequency currents in field windings control output amplitude, output frequency, and output phase. If desired, DC power output can be accommodated as zero power-frequency operation. Devices incorporating this arrangement are suitable of generating fixed frequency electrical power while accommodating variable speed rotation of a generator shaft and offer multiple advantages over existing techniques. The capability to generate speed independent electric power allows natural power sources such as windmills and hydro-power stations to be efficiently coupled to fixed frequency power grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Raven Energy Alternatives, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20100052626
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging and exciting the stator, rotor and various windings of a multi-stage brushless high frequency alternator so that the resulting multiple high frequency sub-phase armature winding outputs can be rectified and commutated into desired phases of power-frequency alternating current (AC) electrical output, including single-phase, split-phase, three-phase and other multiple phase output. Power frequency currents in field windings control output amplitude, output frequency, and output phase. If desired, DC power output can be accommodated as zero power-frequency operation. Devices incorporating this arrangement are suitable of generating fixed frequency electrical power while accommodating variable speed rotation of a generator shaft and offer multiple advantages over existing techniques. The capability to generate speed independent electric power allows natural power sources such as windmills and hydro-power stations to be efficiently coupled to fixed frequency power grids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: RAVEN ENERGY ALTERNATIVES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 7615904
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging and exciting the stator, rotor and various windings of a multi-stage brushless high frequency alternator so that the resulting multiple high frequency sub-phase armature winding outputs can be rectified and commutated into three phase power frequency alternating current (AC) electrical output. Power frequency currents in field windings control output amplitude, output frequency, and output phase. Devices incorporating this arrangement are suitable of generating fixed frequency electrical power while accommodating variable speed rotation of a generator shaft and offer multiple advantages over existing techniques. The capability to generate speed independent electric power allows natural power sources such as windmills and hydro-power stations to be efficiently coupled to fixed frequency power grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Raven Energy Alternatives, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080174195
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging and exciting the stator, rotor and various windings of a multi-stage brushless high frequency alternator so that the resulting multiple high frequency sub-phase armature winding outputs can be rectified and commutated into three phase power frequency alternating current (AC) electrical output. Power frequency currents in field windings control output amplitude, output frequency, and output phase. Devices incorporating this arrangement are suitable of generating fixed frequency electrical power while accommodating variable speed rotation of a generator shaft and offer multiple advantages over existing techniques. The capability to generate speed independent electric power allows natural power sources such as windmills and hydro-power stations to be efficiently coupled to fixed frequency power grids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 7071657
    Abstract: A single-pole type generator with low loss magnetic core is excited by a field coil that is part of a low loss series resonant circuit tuned to a desired AC power frequency, which may be frequencies such as 50 Hz or 60 Hz or 400 Hz. The series resonant circuit is excited at the resonant frequency. The resulting resonant behavior of the excitation circuit automatically provides the high driving voltages and sinusoidal energy storage patterns needed to efficiently modulate the magnetic field at the desired power frequency. This modulation of the excitation field is amplified by mechanical power from a rotating shaft and modulates the output current and voltage of a single phase output circuit of the single-pole type generator at that power frequency in a sinusoidal pattern thus delivering alternating current power without any requirement for further electronic rectification, commutation or processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Raven Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 6570370
    Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed to automatically match the resonant frequency of a series resonant circuit to an imposed operating frequency. A series resonant circuit is used to store or modulate magnetic energy or to generate high voltages. The circuit includes a capacitive element in series with an inductive element and voltage driving source. The capacitive element includes a base capacitance in parallel with a switch circuit that is in series with a trim capacitance. The switch circuit regulates the timing and direction of current through the trim capacitance. The capacitance of the capacitive element may be tightly controlled so that the resonant frequency may be closely regulated. A controller regulates the operation of the switch circuit and the voltage driving source as a function of sensed current through the resonant circuit and the driving frequency and amplitude to be matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Raven Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20030038613
    Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed to automatically match the resonant frequency of a series resonant circuit to an imposed operating frequency. A series resonant circuit is used to store or modulate magnetic energy or to generate high voltages. The circuit includes a capacitive element in series with an inductive element and voltage driving source. The capacitive element includes a base capacitance in parallel with a switch circuit that is in series with a trim capacitance. The switch circuit regulates the timing and direction of current through the trim capacitance. The capacitance of the capacitive element may be tightly controlled so that the resonant frequency may be closely regulated. A controller regulates the operation of the switch circuit and the voltage driving source as a function of sensed current through the resonant circuit and the driving frequency and amplitude to be matched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 6177746
    Abstract: A low inductance electrical machine that may be used as an alternator or motor with low armature inductance is disclosed. Arrangements of complementary armature windings are presented in which the fluxes induced by currents in the armature windings effectively cancel leading to low magnetic energy storage within the machine. This leads to low net flux levels, low core losses, low inductance and reduced tendency toward magnetic saturation. The inclusion of additional gaps in the magnetic circuit allows for independent adjustment of air gap geometry and armature inductance. Separately excited field arrangements are disclosed that allow rotor motion to effect brush-less alternator or brush-less motor operation. An exemplary geometry includes a stator including two annular rings and a concentric field coil together with a rotor structure separated from the stator by four air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 6175178
    Abstract: A low inductance electrical machine which may be used as an alternator or motor with low armature inductance is disclosed. Arrangements of complementary armature windings are presented in which the fluxes induced by currents in the armature windings effectively cancel leading to low magnetic energy storage within the machine. This leads to low net flux levels, low core losses, low inductance and reduced tendency toward magnetic saturation. Separately excited field arrangements are disclosed that allow rotor motion to effect brushless alternator or brushless motor operation. An exemplary geometry includes a stator including two toroidal rings and a concentric field coil together with a rotor structure separated from the stator by four air gaps. An alternate embodiment allows for counter-rotation of two rotor elements for use as a flywheel energy storage system in which the external gyroscopic effects cancel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Duncan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 6133669
    Abstract: A low-loss magnetic core of the claw-pole type for use in generating electrical power with a high frequency alternator is disclosed. A rotor, driven by a shaft, is made of pairs of individual poles of alternating polarity nested radially around a shaft. The rotor poles overlap each other axially and interleave circumferentially. The rotor poles are excited by a common field coil. The pairs of individual poles are made from laminated electrical steel or magnetic steel, with laminate shapes bent and bundled together to form an open three dimensional shape vaguely similar to one and one quarter turns of a spiral shape. A stator is made of ring bundles of laminated electrical steel or magnetic steel, with internal teeth. Various arrangements of windings on the stator teeth create armature poles for multiple phases of output voltage. The low loss magnetic core allows for efficient operation at high shaft speed and allows for efficient AC excitation of the rotor for special applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Christopher N. Tupper
  • Patent number: 6051959
    Abstract: A poly-phase high frequency alternator with a low-loss magnetic core is excited by a low-loss field coil that is part of a series resonant circuit tuned to a desired AC power frequency which may be 50 or 60 Hz. The series resonant circuit is excited at the resonant frequency. The resulting resonant behavior automatically provides the high driving voltages and sinusoidal energy storage patterns needed to efficiently modulate the field inductance at 50 or 60 Hz. Modulating the field at the desired AC power frequency modulates the alternator output voltage at that frequency. The poly-phase alternator output is rectified into a single phase and commutated with respect to the load at the zero crossing of each half cycle of the AC power frequency. This produces a single phase power frequency AC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Dirigo R&D
    Inventor: Christopher N. Tupper
  • Patent number: 5376933
    Abstract: A trawl cable vibration meter is described for monitoring the vibration in the trawl cables which connect a vessel and a set of trawl doors. The doors are connected to a fishing net and are towed along the ocean floor. A sensor, mounted on the vessel at a location where stress is tranferred to the vessel, provides signals corresponding to the vibration in each cable which is indicative of the interaction between the trawl door and the ocean bottom. An interface provides ongoing information on the vibration, and an alarm system for notifying an operator when a threshold has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventors: Christopher N. Tupper, Charles P. Saunders