Patents Assigned to Clean Energy
  • Publication number: 20170137238
    Abstract: A Solar power plant construction method includes a string formation step of arranging solar modules delivered to an assembly plant on support frames to form planar solar strings, a conveyance step of stacking the solar strings in a container and loading the container on a container truck to convey the container to a power plant site, and a solar string installation step of transferring the container delivered to the power plant site to a site machine and measuring distances and directions between a crane included in the site machine placed at a predetermined position of a stand array group for mounting solar array provided in the power plant site and stands to pull up the solar strings by the crane of the site machine to sequentially distribute the solar strings to respective stand positions measured in the stand position measurement step to form and fix a solar array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicants: Clean Energy Factory Co., Ltd., Mers Fors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki KAMATA
  • Publication number: 20170137210
    Abstract: A container for solar string transportation includes, on the inside of a solar-string storing section, a long-side side plate, and a short-side side plate, and has an upper opening of the solar-string storing section for loading and unloading, and a pair of solar-string lifting/lowering devices along the inner wall of the long-side side plate. The solar-string lifting/lowering device includes a driving gear section set on the bottom plate side, an endless chain member that revolves around a direction changing gear section set on the upper opening side, a plurality of solar-string placing devices fixed to the endless chain member and including, on the outer side thereof, a projecting section for placing the lower surface of an end edge of the solar string, and a shock absorbing member fixed to the back of the solar-string placing devices. The shock absorbing member holds the end edge upper surface of the solar string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicants: Clean Energy Factory Co., Ltd., Mers Fors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki KAMATA
  • Patent number: 9638182
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pump systems having graphene or other atomically thin electrically conductive materials supported by trough-shaped cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 9625099
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the pressure of a pressurized gas is provided, the system including a pressure reduction stage, the pressure reduction stage including: a knock-out bottle; a control valve connected to a gas stream inlet and configured to introduce a gas stream at an initial pressure level into the knock-out bottle; an output connected to a gas stream outlet; and a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure within the knock-out bottle and changing the operational state of the control valve to maintain the pressure inside the knock-out bottle within a pressure range. More than one pressure reduction stage may be implemented in series to provide a more gradual step down in the gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
    Inventor: Denis Ding
  • Publication number: 20170105065
    Abstract: An audio speaker having one or more passive radiators, and more specifically, an audio speaker having a passive radiator with dynamically adjustable resonant frequency. The audio speaker can dynamically adjust the resonant frequency of its passive radiator so that it lines up with the main bass note frequency (or frequencies) of a given song.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 9568214
    Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as a biofuel heating system comprising a controller for operating a fan based on a load operating parameter such that air flows along a flow path extending through a combustion chamber, through a burn-out port, through a burn-out chamber, through a heat exchange port, through a heat exchange chamber, and out of an exhaust port. A heat exchange system transfers heat energy from air flowing through the heat exchange chamber to a working fluid. The controller operates in a char mode based at least in part on the load operating parameter, and the biofuel remains within the combustion zone during the char mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GREENWOOD CLEAN ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: David S. Sharpe, Michael R. Kuehner, Douglas S. Denton, Bryan J. Louviere
  • Publication number: 20160379018
    Abstract: Ultrasonic identification devices, and methods of making and use same. The present invention further relates to ultrasonic ID devices using membranes (such as membranes made of graphene or a polyester film).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Publication number: 20160356423
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-venting transfer systems and methods related to transferring cryogenic liquid between two vessels without venting evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere. The stations, systems, and methods utilize a feed line and a return line connecting a source tank and a pump system to allow for flow of a cryogenic liquid to the pump and return of evaporated cryogenic liquid to the source tank, thereby avoiding release of the evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
    Inventors: Kenny Oldham, Devin Martin
  • Patent number: 9516426
    Abstract: An improved electrostatic membrane pump/transducer having an array of electrostatic membrane pump transducers that utilize a venturi channel. The electrically conductive membrane of the electrostatic membrane pump transducers can be a polymer membrane coated with a conductive coating. The electrostatic membrane pump transducers can be optionally controlled such that one set is out of phase with another set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 9515580
    Abstract: Nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) devices that utilize thin electrically conductive membranes, which can be, for example, graphene membranes. The membrane-based NEMS devices can be used as sensors, electrical relays, adjustable angle mirror devices, variable impedance devices, and devices performing other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F Pinkerton, David A Badger, William Neil Everett, William Martin Lackowski
  • Publication number: 20160348659
    Abstract: Nanomechanical, nanoelectromechanical, and other molecular-scale pump assemblies are described. In certain embodiments, the pump assembly includes a cavity. The cavity includes a plurality of nanofilaments, a surface proximate at least one of the nanofilaments, a fluid flow path, and an opening. Molecules of a fluid that flows from the opening through the cavity along the fluid flow path collide with the surface or one or more of the nanofilaments such that the molecules are accelerated along the fluid flow path. A molecular-scale pump assembly includes a plate defining a plurality of openings, and a plurality of cantilevered molecular-scale beams positioned over each opening. In certain embodiments, molecules of a fluid are accelerated through the opening by asymmetric oscillation and in other embodiments charges are guided along a conductive channel by asymmetric collisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 9506656
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stove that operates using liquid fuel of alcohol and water that can be diluted to concentrations as low as 50% alcohol by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: International Clean Energy Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Marco Gravel
  • Publication number: 20160345083
    Abstract: An improved compact electroacoustic transducer and loudspeaker system. The electroacoustic transducer (or array of electroacoustic transducers) can generate the desired sound by the use of pressurized airflow. The electroacoustic transducer uses a shared stator with an array of vent support fingers and metal frame instead of two stators per electroacoustic transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, William Neil Everett, William Martin Lackowski, David A. Badger
  • Patent number: 9488370
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an arrangement structure suitable for an inverted pulverized coal boiler with ultra-high steam temperature steam parameters, including a hearth, wherein the hearth is communicated with a middle uplink flue, and the top of the middle uplink flue is communicated with that of a tail downlink flue. In the structure, the hearth is connected with the middle uplink flue by a hearth outlet horizontal flue at the bottom, so that the high-temperature gas is drained to a low elevation and then flows upwards through the middle uplink flue; a final heating surface may be arranged at the low position of the hearth outlet horizontal flue and the middle uplink flue so as to reduce the length of the high-temperature steam pipeline between the final heating surface and the steam turbine, lower the manufacturing cost of the boiler as well as the frication and radiation loss of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Minhua Jiang, Ping Xiao, Jianzhong Jiang, Li Zhong
  • Patent number: 9482388
    Abstract: A skid-mounted compressed gas dispensing station comprises a skid-mounted assembly, with the skid adapted to be mounted to the ground; wherein the skid-mounted assembly comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a dryer assembly, one or more compressors, a compressed gas storage tank, one or more dispenser assemblies, and an electrical control system, either integral to or pre-mounted on the skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Clean Energy
    Inventors: Colm Murphy, Brad Miller
  • Publication number: 20160312955
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the pressure of a pressurized gas is provided, the system including a pressure reduction stage, the pressure reduction stage including: a knock-out bottle; a control valve connected to a gas stream inlet and configured to introduce a gas stream at an initial pressure level into the knock-out bottle; an output connected to a gas stream outlet; and a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure within the knock-out bottle and changing the operational state of the control valve to maintain the pressure inside the knock-out bottle within a pressure range. More than one pressure reduction stage may be implemented in series to provide a more gradual step down in the gas pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
    Inventor: Denis DING
  • Publication number: 20160309259
    Abstract: Pump systems having electrically conductive membranes are described. In embodiments of the invention, the electrically conductive membranes can be utilized as speakers to produce ultrasonic and audible sounds. The electrically conductive membranes are made from materials such as graphene, graphene oxide, and polymer films having a thin conductive coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: CLEAN ENERGY LABS, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Publication number: 20160298616
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system for increasing the flow rate of a compressor system are provided. The system includes a gas inlet component, a compression component including a compressor; and an injection component having a compression component connection connected to one or more chambers of the compressor. By injecting a secondary high-pressure gas stream into the compressor through the injection component, the discharge flow rate of the compressor system may be increased above the flow rate capable based on the design of the compressor, without additional equipment or unduly increasing power consumption of the compressor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: CLEAN ENERGY FUELS CORP.
    Inventor: Denis DING
  • Patent number: 9467073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to piezoelectrie energy conversion assemblies. The assembly includes a piezoelectric nanowire (such as a ZnO nanowire), an electrically conductive nanofilament (such as a carbon nanotube), a first electrically conductive element (such as a first metallic trace), and a second electrically conductive element (such as a second metallic trace). The first electrically conductive element is electrically connected to the piezoelectric nanowire, and the second electrically conductive element is electrically connected to the electrically conductive nanofilament. The piezoelectric nanowire and electrically conductive nanofilament are operable to contact one another such that a charge can flow from the first electrically conductive element, through the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament, to the second electrically conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Clean Energy Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Publication number: 20160234603
    Abstract: An improved loudspeaker having pump cards that include an array of electrically conductive membrane transducers (such as polyester-metal membrane pumps). The array of electrically conductive membrane transducers combine to generate the desired sound by the use of pressurized airflow. The array of electrically conductive membranes has a total membrane area that is at least five times larger than the face area of the loudspeaker. In some embodiments, the loudspeaker includes a dynamic DC bus controller that maintains the DC bus level slightly above the inverter output (audio signal).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: CLEAN ENERGY LABS, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David A. Badger, William Neil Everett, William Martin Lackowski