Patents by Inventor Luis Manuel De Carvalho GATO

Luis Manuel De Carvalho GATO 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).

  • Patent number: 9976536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air turbine capable of without change in its rotational velocity direction, efficiently absorbing the energy associated with a pressure difference between two spaces (A) and (B) of successively changing sign, as in the case of sea wave energy systems. The turbine comprises two sets of blades (I) and (II), each of which is similar to the blade system of a conventional turbine of radial-, mixed- or axial-flow type. The turbine also comprises a system of ducts that connect spaces (A) and (B) through any of the two blade sets (I) and (II). The turbine may be equipped with a fast-acting valve that stops the flow through one or both blade sets (I) and (II).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO
    Inventors: Antonio Franco De Oliveira Falcao, Luis Manuel De Carvalho Gato, Joao Carlos De Campos Henriques
  • Patent number: 9371815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbine which can absorb energy from bi-directional reversing flows, as is the case of ocean wave energy converters. In the periphery of the bladed rotor (2) of the turbine there are two openings (5, 6) through which the fluid alternately enters, or exits from, the rotor, the outward flow being radially centrifugal and the inward flow being radially centripetal. The turbine stator comprises two sets of guide vanes (7, 8) for alternately directing the bi-directional reversing flow to, and from, the rotor, and two ducts (9, 12) disposed between the rotor and the guide vanes and extending radially beyond the guide vanes. Two stator arrangements are considered. In both arrangements, the inlet guide vanes deflect the inward flow and impart a circumferential swirl component in the same direction as the normal rotational direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO
    Inventors: António Franco de Oliveira Falcão, Luis Manuel de Carvalho Gato
  • Publication number: 20160108885
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air turbine capable of without change in its rotational velocity direction, efficiently absorbing the energy associated with a pressure difference between two spaces (A) and (B) of successively changing sign, as in the case of sea wave energy systems. The turbine comprises two sets of blades (I) and (II), each of which is similar to the blade system of a conventional turbine of radial-, mixed- or axial-flow type. The turbine also comprises a system of ducts that connect spaces (A) and (B) through any of the two blade sets (I) and (II). The turbine may be equipped with a fast-acting valve that stops the flow through one or both blade sets (I) and (II).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO
    Inventors: Antonio Franco De Oliveira FALCAO, Luis Manuel De Carvalho GATO, Joao Carfos De Campos HENRIQUES
  • Publication number: 20130011251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbine which can absorb energy from bi-directional reversing flows, as is the case of ocean wave energy converters. In the periphery of the bladed rotor (2) of the turbine there are two openings (5, 6) through which the fluid alternately enters, or exits from, the rotor, the outward flow being radially centrifugal and the inward flow being radially centripetal. The turbine stator comprises two sets of guide vanes (7, 8) for alternately directing the bi-directional reversing flow to, and from, the rotor, and two ducts (9, 12) disposed between the rotor and the guide vanes and extending radially beyond the guide vanes. Two stator arrangements are considered. In both arrangements, the inlet guide vanes deflect the inward flow and impart a circumferential swirl component in the same direction as the normal rotational direction of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: António Franco de Oliveira Falcão, Luís Manuel De Carvalho Gato