Patents Assigned to Danfoss
  • Patent number: 8066256
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for actuating a valve includes an extensible bellow having an open end and a closed end, a stem operable to contact the closed end and to actuate a stopper mechanism, and a driver configured to move the bellow. The movement of the bellow effects movement of the stem to actuate the valve. In one embodiment, the driver acts to compress the bellow, the compression causing movement of the stem to open the valve. The bellow may be hermetically sealed to the valve housing, thereby allowing a higher range of fluid pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Christian Platz, Michael Birkelund
  • Patent number: 8066057
    Abstract: A distributor (1) for distributing a flow of cooling fluid over one or more surface(s) (3) to be cooled has a housing (13) that may be manufactured in a single piece together with inlet (8) and outlet (9) manifolds and a plurality of flow cells (26, 27, 28, 29). The flow cells (26, 27, 28, 29) may be connected in parallel between the manifolds (8, 9), and may be adapted to cool multiple surfaces (3) simultaneously. The present invention is also directed to a fluid-coolable unit comprising a distributor (1) for removing heat from an electronic circuit, such as integrated circuit or CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss Silicon Power GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Kristen Olesen
  • Publication number: 20110283881
    Abstract: A cylinder block assembly for a hydraulic device. The cylinder block assembly includes a cylinder block with a plurality of piston bores disposed therethrough. Circumferential grooves are disposed around the piston bore such that an elastic bushing may be disposed within the piston bore using a slip fit so that when the elastic material deforms the material deforms into the circumferential groove. By deforming into the circumferential groove the elastic bushing is locked in place and axial movement of the bushing in the bore is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Bretey, Gregory H. Knop
  • Publication number: 20110273017
    Abstract: In large PV power plants, grounding of individual PV modules may lead to problems. The present invention overcomes such problems. The basis for the invention is a PV power plant comprising one or more PV generators, each comprising a PV string and an inverter with a DC input and an AC output. The PV string comprises at least one PV module and is electrically connected to the DC input of the inverter. The inverter comprises means for controlling the DC potential at the DC input depending on the DC potential at the AC output. The AC outputs of the inverters are coupled in parallel. The novel feature of the invention is that the PV power plant further comprises an offset voltage source, which controls the DC potential at the AC outputs. Thereby, the DC potential at the DC input will be indirectly controlled, and it is thus possible to ensure that the potentials with respect to ground at the terminals of the PV modules are all non-negative or all non-positive without grounding the PV modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Danfoss Solar Inverters A/S
    Inventors: Uffe Borup, Haase Frerk
  • Patent number: 8043070
    Abstract: A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, an infinitely variable speed motor, and an arrangement for operating the motor. In one example, the pumping system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of retained speed values, an arrangement for providing a plurality of retained speed values to the memory, and an arrangement for reading a selected one of the plurality of retained speed values from the memory. In addition or alternatively, the pumping system includes a storage medium for digitally storing a plurality of pre-established motor speed values and an arrangement for receiving input from a user to select one of the pre-established motor speeds. In addition or alternatively, the pumping system further includes an arrangement for restarting operation of the motor at a previously selected speed value when power supplied to the motor is interrupted during operation of the motor. A method for controlling the pumping system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Low Power Drives, a Division of Danfoss
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Ronald B. Robol, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel J. Hruby, Kevin Murphy, Einar Kjartan Runarsson, Arne Fink Hansen, Florin Lungeanu, Peter Westermann-Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8042568
    Abstract: The invention provides a fluid controller for controlling a machine, e.g. for steering a vehicle. The controller comprises a housing defining an inlet port connected to the source and an outlet port connected to the pressure operated device. The flow rate is controlled by movement of a valve member within the housing, and a processor provides a reference which is indicative of a desired position of the valve member relative to the housing. The fluid controller comprises a fault detection system based on an observer. The observer calculates a theoretically correct position of the valve member relative to the housing for a given reference, and compares this position to an obtained position of the valve member relative to the housing. The difference between the positions is compared with a threshold value. In order to dynamically change the sensitivity of the system, the threshold value is scaled based on a gradient of the reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss ApS
    Inventor: Martin Clausen
  • Publication number: 20110255246
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a rigid power module with a layer that is electrically insulating and conducts well thermally and has been deposited as a coating, the structure having sprayed-on particles that are fused to each other, of at least one material that is electrically insulating and conducts well thermally, having the following steps: manufacturing a one-piece lead frame; populating the lead frame with semiconductor devices, possible passive components, and bonding corresponding connections, inserting the thus populated lead frame into a compression mould so that accessibility of part areas of the lead frame is ensured, pressing a thermosetting compression moulding compound into the mould while enclosing the populated lead frame, coating the underside of the thus populated lead frame by thermal spraying in at least the electrically conducting areas and overlapping also the predominant areas of the spaces, filled with mold compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Danfoss Silicon Power GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald Eisele, Mathias Kock, Teoman Senyildiz
  • Publication number: 20110253918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve actuator (2), comprising a magnetic core (6) with an interspace (8) and at least one bifurcating branch (7), at least one variable magnetic field generating device (16), at least one permanent magnetic field generating device (13) and at least one movable magnetic component (12), wherein the bifurcating branch (7) defines a first region (4) and a second region (5) of said magnetic core (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicants: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LTD, SAUER-DANFOSS APS
    Inventors: William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Niall James Caldwell, Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein
  • Publication number: 20110247791
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises first and second headers; a plurality of tubes each defining two ends connected to the first and second headers respectively. Each tube comprises a bent segment and straight segments connected to first and second ends of the bent segment respectively, the bent segment being twisted relative to the straight segments. A plurality of fins are interposed between adjacent straight segments. A length of the bent segment before bending satisfies a formula: 5t?(180??)/180+2Tw?A?30t?(180??)/180+8Tw , where: A is the length of the bent segment before bending, t is a wall thickness of the tube, Tw is a width of the tube, ? is an intersection angle between the straight segments of the tube, and ? is circumference ratio. The heat exchanger of embodiments of the present invention is easy to bend and convenient to manufacture without reducing the heat exchange efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Danfoss Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianlong Jiang, Wei Wang, Linjie Huang
  • Publication number: 20110247359
    Abstract: An expansion valve (1) is disclosed which comprises an inlet opening (2), at least one outlet opening (3) and first and second valve parts. The inlet opening (2) is adapted to receive fluid medium in a liquid state. The outlet opening(s) (3) is/are adapted to deliver fluid medium in an at least partly gaseous state to a flow path. The valve parts are arranged movable relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part determines a fluid flow between the inlet opening (2) and the outlet opening(s) (3). During normal operation, a resulting force acts upon the first valve part and/or the second valve part to press the first and second valve parts towards each other. The expansion valve (1) comprises means for reducing the resulting force acting upon the valve part(s). Thereby the valve parts can easier be moved relative to each other, and the force required in order to operate the valve (1) is thereby reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: Jens Pawlik, Hans Kurt Petersen
  • Publication number: 20110249368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the existence of an earth-fault on-the-fly and thereby protecting a motor controller having a high- and a low-side DC-link, and having high- and low-side switching elements, the high- and low-side switching elements being operatively connected to the high- and low-side DC-link buses, respectively, the method comprising the steps of generating a fault signal, generating at least one test vector in response to the fault signal by switching at least one of the switching elements on, and measuring, while the at least one switching element is on, the magnitude of a current flowing in that DC-link operatively connected to the conducting switching element in order to detect an earth-fault. The present invention further relates to additional methods for on-the-fly determination of earth-faults.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Danfoss Drives A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Rosendal Andersen
  • Patent number: 8030814
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method to enhance thrust load capacity in a rotor-bearing system. The load-enhancing device comprises a stator and a rotor arranged in such as way as to achieve a magnetic thrust load capacity enhancement by employing at least one permanent magnet, which produces an attracting force or an expulsing force between the rotor and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss Turbocor Compressors B.V.
    Inventors: Lin Xiang Sun, Huai Lu Lin
  • Publication number: 20110236243
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid rotary machine (1) with a housing (2), a shaft (3) projecting from the housing (2), and being rotatable around an axis (4) and forming part of a movement chain, and a sensor arrangement (10) comprising a transmitter (12) and a receiver (15). It is endeavoured to find a simple solution for detecting the rotation of the shaft with a relatively high accuracy. For this purpose, a channel (21) is provided in the movement chain, and the transmitter (12) is connected to a transfer element (19) transferring a torque that is led through said channel (21) to a section of the movement chain that is farther away from the transmitter (12) than a transmitter-side end of the movement chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SAUER-DANFOSS APS
    Inventor: Tom Tychsen
  • Publication number: 20110232884
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises: a first header; a second header; a plurality of tubes spaced apart from each other and each connected between the first and second headers in fluid communication therewith; and a plurality of fins each disposed between adjacent tubes, in which the heat exchanger has a bent portion between the first and second headers such that the heat exchanger is divided into first and second heat exchanger portions which are located at two sides of the bent portion respectively, and a heat transfer coefficient of the second heat exchanger portion is greater than that of the first heat exchanger portion. The heat exchanger according to embodiments of the present disclosure is bent into a substantially inverted V-shape, and the capacities of the heat exchanger on two sides of the bending position are identical, thus improving the heat exchange performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Danfoss Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianlong Jiang, Linjie Huang
  • Publication number: 20110236244
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid rotary machine (1) with a housing (2), a shaft (3) led out of the housing (2) and a sensor arrangement (10) comprising a transmitter (12) in active connection with the shaft (3), and a receiver (15). It is endeavoured to arrange the sensor arrangement in an advantageous manner on the fluid rotary machine. For this purpose, the sensor arrangement (10) comprises an accommodation area, in which the transmitter (12) is arranged, the accommodation area being in fluid connection with the inside of the housing (2) and sealed towards the outside, and the receiver (15) is arranged outside the housing (2) and the accommodation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SAUER-DANFOSS APS
    Inventors: Tom Tychsen, Dietmar Weiss
  • Publication number: 20110226342
    Abstract: A fluid working machine comprises a controller (12) and a working chamber (2) of cyclically varying volume. The working, chamber has both an electronically controllable primary low pressure valve (14) and a secondary low pressure port (22) associated therewith, each of which is openable and closable in phased relation to cycles of working chamber volume to bring the working chamber into fluid communication with a low pressure manifold (16, 26). At least the primary low pressure valve is under the active control of the controller to enable the controller to determine the net displacement of fluid by the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. The primary low pressure valve and the secondary low pressure port are openable concurrently during a portion of at least some cycles of working chamber volume to enable fluid to flow into or out of the working chamber concurrently through both the primary low pressure valve and the secondary low pressure port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicants: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, SAUER-DANFOSS ApS
    Inventors: Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein, Niall James Caldwell
  • Patent number: 8020435
    Abstract: A method of visually investigating a coated surface of an object, the coating comprising a metal or an alloy, in order to determine whether or not the coating is tight. An increasing potential is applied to the object until a desired current level has been obtained or until a maximum potential has been reached. In case the coating is tight this results in a change in color of the coating. This may be due to a polarization of the coating material and/or due to an increase in thickness of a naturally occurring metal oxide layer. In case the coating is tight the desired current level can not be obtained, and the potential is increased to the maximum level resulting in a change in color. In case pinholes are present it is possible to obtain the desired current level, and the increase in potential is stopped before it is high enough to cause the change in color. Provides a dramatic visual effect allowing an immediate determination of whether or not pinholes are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Bo Gillesberg
  • Patent number: 8023234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the existence of an earth-fault on-the-fly and thereby protecting a motor controller having a high- and a low-side DC-link, and having high- and low-side switching elements, the high- and low-side switching elements being operatively connected to the high- and low-side DC-link buses, respectively, the method comprising the steps of generating a fault signal, generating at least one test vector in response to the fault signal by switching at least one of the switching elements on, and measuring, while the at least one switching element is on, the magnitude of a current flowing in that DC-link operatively connected to the conducting switching element in order to detect an earth-fault. The present invention further relates to additional methods for on-the-fly determination of earth-faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss Drives A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Rosendal Andersen
  • Patent number: D645483
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Steen Andreasen, Dirk Dostal, Thorsten Stöben
  • Patent number: D646753
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Anders Juul, Hans Kurt Petersen