Patents Assigned to Minesto AB
  • Patent number: 11542908
    Abstract: A submersible power plant and a method for providing a submersible power plant. The submersible power plant includes an anchoring provided at a minimum depth and a vehicle including at least one wing. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the anchoring by at least one tether rotatably attached to the anchoring by an anchoring coupling and attached to the vehicle by at least one vehicle coupling. The submersible power plant is completely submerged in a body of fluid both during operation and non-operation of the submersible power plant and the tether has an unextended tether length between 2-20 times a wingspan of the wing, specifically between 3-12 times the wingspan of the wing, more specifically between 5-10 times the wingspan of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Minesto AB
    Inventor: Björn Bergqvist
  • Patent number: 10227962
    Abstract: A power plant includes a structure and a vehicle having at least one wing including a first wing part and a second wing part. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by a fluid stream passing the wing. The vehicle includes at least one turbine connected to a nacelle having a generator. At least the first wing part is arranged at a first angle relative to a horizontal center line of the wing. The nacelle is arranged to be attached to a surface of the wing facing the direction in which the first wing part is angled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MINESTO AB
    Inventor: Arne Quappen
  • Publication number: 20190063398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a submersible power plan. The submersible power plant is submerged in a fluid. The power plant includes a structure and a vehicle where the vehicle has at least one wing. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by a fluid stream passing the vehicle. The tether includes an upper tether part and a lower tether part. The upper tether part has an average density higher than the fluid, has a hydrodynamic cross section and is arranged to be connected to the vehicle. The lower tether part has an average density lower than the fluid, has a non-hydrodynamic cross section and is arranged to be connected to the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Minesto AB
    Inventors: Arne QUAPPEN, Olof MARZELIUS, Jonas MALMQVIST, Jonas WRANNE
  • Patent number: 10167842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a submersible power plant (1) and a submersible power plant (1). The submersible power plant (1) comprises a structure (2) and a vehicle (3). The vehicle (3) comprises at least one wing (4). The vehicle (3) is arranged to be secured to the structure (2) by means of at least one tether (5). The vehicle (3) is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing the vehicle (3). The vehicle (3) is arranged to change the angle of attack of the at least one wing (4). The method comprises: I: determining if the speed of the fluid passing the vehicle (3) is higher than a predetermined value; or II: determining if the speed of the fluid passing the vehicle (3) is lower than the predetermined value. The vehicle (3) changes the angle of attack for different situations depending on if the speed is higher or lower than the predetermined trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Erik Dölerud, Arne Quappen, Christian Norinder, Mattias Andersson
  • Patent number: 10046833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tether for connecting a moving device submerged in liquid to a support structure, e.g. a submersible power plant comprising a stream-driven vehicle provided with at least one turbine for generation of electrical energy. The tether extends in a main direction, and at least a tether portion of the tether comprises a tensile force bearing portion extending in the main direction of the tether, wherein the tether portion is arranged to strive to self-align in relation to a relative flow direction of the liquid during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Arne Quappen, Olof Marzelius
  • Patent number: 9745950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a submersible power plant. The power plant comprises a structure and a vehicle. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by means of at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a first wing and a second wing, where the first wing is arranged at a first distance D1 from the second wing in a longitudinal direction, and the first wing is arranged at a second distance D2 from the second wing in a lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Olof Marzelius, Erik Dölerud
  • Patent number: 9690299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for control of a flying wing. The flying wing is arranged to be controlled to move along a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing a wing of the flying wing. The flying wing comprises at least one control surface for controlling the movement of the flying wing along the predetermined trajectory. The flying wing is positioned in a reference frame where the x-axis is directed horizontally along a level L above which the flying wing moves, the y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis in a vertical direction and the z-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis along the level L in a direction along the principal direction of the fluid stream. The invention further relates to a system comprising a flying wing and a computer-readable medium for use with a flying wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Anders Movert, Per Hillerborg
  • Patent number: 9593717
    Abstract: The arrangement comprises a fluid bearing comprising a first fluid bearing element located in a bearing housing and a piston located in a pump housing. The bearing housing comprises a bearing housing opening. The pump housing comprises a pump housing opening. The first fluid bearing element is connected to the piston by means of a connection means extending from the first fluid bearing element through the bearing housing opening to the piston through the pump housing opening. The piston is arranged to reciprocate in the pump housing. The pump housing is connected to a fluid reservoir by means of a first inlet. The bearing housing comprises a first outlet for allowing fluid to exit the bearing housing. The arrangement further comprises a fluid transport means fluidly connecting the pump housing and the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MINESTO AB
    Inventor: Arne Quappen
  • Publication number: 20170009731
    Abstract: The invention relates to a submersible power plant. The power plant comprises a structure and a vehicle. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by means of at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a first wing and a second wing, where the first wing is arranged at a first distance D1 from the second wing in a longitudinal direction, and the first wing is arranged at a second distance D2 from the second wing in a lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Olof MARZELIUS, Erik DÖLERUD
  • Publication number: 20160146181
    Abstract: A power plant includes a structure and a vehicle having at least one wing including a first wing part and a second wing part. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by a fluid stream passing the wing. The vehicle includes at least one turbine connected to a nacelle having a generator. At least the first wing part is arranged at a first angle relative to a horizontal centre line of the wing. The nacelle is arranged to be attached to a surface of the wing facing the direction in which the first wing part is angled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventor: Arne QUAPPEN
  • Publication number: 20160115937
    Abstract: A submersible power plant comprises a structure and a vehicle with a wing. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by ae tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by a fluid stream passing the wing. The submersible power plant comprises at least a first turbine, a second turbine and a third turbine being arranged to be attached to the wing of the vehicle. The first turbine is connected to a first generator, the second turbine is connected to a second generator, and the third turbine is connected to a third generator. At least one turbine is attached to the vehicle on a top surface of the wing, and at least one turbine is attached to a bottom surface of the wing. The generators are arranged to be able to produce different fluid dynamics pressures exerted on the respective turbines by torque control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventor: Patrik PETTERSSON
  • Publication number: 20160013703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power plant for producing electrical power. The power plant comprises a vehicle comprising at least one wing arranged to be secured to a structure by means of at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move with a varying speed over a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing the wing. The power plant comprises an element arranged to change or allow change of the distance between the vehicle and the structure continuously over or during parts of the predetermined trajectory, thereby reducing the variation in speed of the vehicle over the predetermined trajectory and/or allowing electrical power to be generated from the variation in distance by means of a transducer arranged to be attached to the power plant. The advantage of the invention is that an increased efficiency is obtainable for the power plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Olof MARZELIUS, Arne QUAPPEN
  • Publication number: 20150316931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for control of a flying wing. The flying wing is arranged to be controlled to move along a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing a wing of the flying wing. The flying wing comprises at least one control surface for controlling the movement of the flying wing along the predetermined trajectory. The flying wing is positioned in a reference frame where the x-axis is directed horizontally along a level L above which the flying wing moves, the y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis in a vertical direction and the z-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis along the level L in a direction along the principal direction of the fluid stream. The invention further relates to a system comprising a flying wing and a computer-readable medium for use with a flying wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventors: Anders MOVERT, Per HILLERBORG
  • Publication number: 20150292555
    Abstract: The arrangement comprises a fluid bearing comprising a first fluid bearing element located in a bearing housing and a piston located in a pump housing. The bearing housing comprises a bearing housing opening. The pump housing comprises a pump housing opening. The first fluid bearing element is connected to the piston by means of a connection means extending from the first fluid bearing element through the bearing housing opening to the piston through the pump housing opening. The piston is arranged to reciprocate in the pump housing. The pump housing is connected to a fluid reservoir by means of a first inlet. The bearing housing comprises a first outlet for allowing fluid to exit the bearing housing. The arrangement further comprises a fluid transport means fluidly connecting the pump housing and the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventor: Arne Quappen
  • Patent number: 8246293
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a submersible plant for producing energy. The submersible plant comprises at least one turbine (9) and is characterized in that said turbine (9) is mounted on a stream-driven vehicle (3) and in that said stream-driven vehicle is secured in a structure by means of at least one wire (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Minesto AB
    Inventor: Magnus Landberg
  • Publication number: 20110266805
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a submersible plant for producing energy. The submersible plant comprises at least one turbine (9) and is characterized in that said turbine (9) is mounted on a stream-driven vehicle (3) and in that said stream-driven vehicle is secured in a structure by means of at least one wire (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: MINESTO AB
    Inventor: Magnus LANDBERG
  • Publication number: 20090185904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a submersible plant for producing energy. The submersible plant comprises at least one turbine (9) and is characterized in that said turbine (9) is mounted on a stream-driven vehicle (3) and in that said stream-driven vehicle is secured in a structure by means of at least one wire (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Minesto AB
    Inventor: Magnus Landberg