Patents Examined by Burton Mullins
  • Patent number: 9312743
    Abstract: Provided is a motor for a washing machine including: an inner rotor connected to a dehydrating tub rotating shaft and rotated together; an outer rotor connected to a pulsator rotating shaft and rotated together; and a double stator having a first coil arranged to leave a gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor and which interacts with the outer rotor, to thereby form a first magnetic circuit and a second coil which interacts with the inner rotor to thereby form a second magnetic circuit, in which a first drive signal is applied to the first coil and a second drive signal different from the first drive signal is applied to the second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: AMOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Soo Kim, Se Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 9306433
    Abstract: A drive module with a housing, an electric motor, a coolant sump, an inlet pipe and a transmission and differential assembly that is driven by the electric motor to drive a pair of output members. The electric motor is coupled to the housing and has a stator, which is fixedly coupled to the housing, and a rotor that is rotatable within the stator. The rotor has a coolant passage, which extends parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor, and a nozzle passage that intersects the coolant passage and extends radially outwardly therefrom. The coolant sump is configured to hold a coolant fluid. The inlet pipe is in fluid communication with the coolant sump and is received into the coolant passage. The inlet pipe is configured to feed the coolant fluid from the coolant sump into the coolant passage. The coolant fluid is gravity fed into the inlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Erik J. Sten, Erik N. O. Matkaselka
  • Patent number: 9306424
    Abstract: A rotor for a rotary electric machine includes a pair of Lundell-type cores, a plurality of magnets, and a magnet retainer. The pair of Lundell-type cores includes a plurality of claw poles with flange portions projecting to a circumferential direction of the rotor from an end portion on an outer diameter side of each of the claw poles. The plurality of magnets are arranged between the pair of Lundell-type cores, and are magnetized in a direction of reducing flux leakage. The magnet retainer retains each of the magnets, and has side surfaces in the circumferential direction. At least one of the side surfaces is provided with at least one projection for restraining movement of the magnet retainer in an axial direction along a rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Koji Kondo
  • Patent number: 9300185
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a flywheel power generating facility includes a flywheel power generator including a flywheel for storing rotational energy, and configured to convert the rotational energy into electric power to supply the electric power to a test facility. The generating facility further includes a driving motor configured to rotate the flywheel, and a power supply device configured to supply electric power to the driving motor. The generating facility further includes a detector configured to output a signal related to the rotation of the flywheel, and a controller configured to control operation of the driving motor, based on the outputted signal. The controller controls the operation of the driving motor so that the driving motor provides accelerating torque to the flywheel while the supply of the electric power to the test facility is stopped and while the electric power is supplied to the test facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Arihara, Teruyuki Ishizuki, Takahisa Kageyama
  • Patent number: 9300176
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine includes a stator having a stator coil and a rotor provided rotatably around a specific rotation axis with respect to the stator. The rotor includes a plurality of magnets, a plurality of magnetically-assisted salient pole members provided between poles of any adjacent two magnets from among the plurality of magnets, and a magnetoresistance variation unit provided in the magnetically-assisted salient pole member along an axial direction of the rotation axis at a position offset in a circumferential direction of the rotation axis from a q-axis passing through a salient pole center of the magnetically-assisted salient pole member. The amount of offset of the magnetoresistance variation unit from the q-axis varies depending on positions of the magnetically-assisted salient pole members so that torque fluctuations cancel each other when power is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Saito, Tsuyoshi Goto, Kenichi Nakayama, Noriaki Hino, Shinji Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9284881
    Abstract: A method for operating a compressor, which supplies an internal combustion engine that is assigned to the compressor at its output end with air compressed to a boost pressure, in which the boost pressure is reducible by releasing the compressed air at least partially via a pressure release valve. The air released via the pressure release valve is used for driving a compressor wheel of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Jochen Laubender
  • Patent number: 9287739
    Abstract: An axial flux stator includes a plurality of magnetically permeable members, a plurality of windings, a back iron, and an encasing. The plurality of windings is associated with the plurality of magnetically permeable members to produce a plurality of winding-magnetically permeable member assemblies. The back iron is mechanically butt joint coupled to the plurality of winding-magnetically permeable member assemblies. The encasing maintains the butt joint coupling of the back iron to the plurality of winding-magnetically permeable member assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Lester B. Ashe, Matthew S. Hanson
  • Patent number: 9281763
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes: a plurality of actuators arranged into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of row conductors corresponding to the plurality of rows; a plurality of column conductors corresponding to the plurality of columns; and a controller configured to select at least one of the actuators in a row by raising a voltage on the corresponding row conductor to couple each selected actuator to its corresponding column conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
    Inventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 9282415
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes a first electrode, a vibrating membrane formed above the first electrode through a gap, a second electrode formed on the vibrating membrane, and an insulating protective layer formed on a surface of the second electrode side. A region where the protective layer is not formed is present on at least part of a surface of the vibrating membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chienliu Chang
  • Patent number: 9273684
    Abstract: An object is to provide a hermetic electric compressor that can simplify the installation structure of an internal protector and improve the ease-of-assembly thereof. In a hermetic electric compressor having a compressor and an electric motor (10) built into a sealed housing (2), the electric motor (10) includes a stator (8) to which plastic insulating bobbins (30) having flanges (30B, 30C) on an inner and outer circumferences of a plurality of tooth parts of a stator core are fitted and around which a stator winding wire (8A) is wound in concentrated winding around the plastic insulating bobbins (30), and an internal protector (29) for electric-motor protection is latched between the inner and outer circumferential flanges (30B, 30C) of the plastic insulating bobbins (30) by being urged against the stator winding wire (8A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yogo Takasu, Yoshiyuki Kimata, Masanari Uno
  • Patent number: 9270203
    Abstract: An electrostatic (ES) device is described with electrodes that improve its performance metrics. Devices include ES generators and ES motors, which are comprised of one or more stators (stationary members) and one or more rotors (rotatable members). The stator and rotors are configured as a pair of concentric cylindrical structures and aligned about a common axis. The stator and rotor are comprised of an ensemble of discrete, longitudinal electrodes, which are axially oriented in an annular arrangement. The shape of the electrodes described herein enables the ES device to function at voltages significantly greater than that of the existing art, resulting in devices with greater power-handling capability and overall efficiency. Electrode shapes include, but are not limited to, rods, corrugated sheets and emulations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Richard F. Post
  • Patent number: 9270204
    Abstract: A circuit-based technique enhances the power output of electrostatic generators employing an array of axially oriented rods or tubes or azimuthal corrugated metal surfaces for their electrodes. During generator operation, the peak voltage across the electrodes occurs at an azimuthal position that is intermediate between the position of minimum gap and maximum gap. If this position is also close to the azimuthal angle where the rate of change of capacity is a maximum, then the highest rf power output possible for a given maximum allowable voltage at the minimum gap can be attained. This rf power output is then coupled to the generator load through a coupling condenser that prevents suppression of the dc charging potential by conduction through the load. Optimized circuit values produce phase shifts in the rf output voltage that allow higher power output to occur at the same voltage limit at the minimum gap position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Richard F Post
  • Patent number: 9260250
    Abstract: A gear motor is provided with a motor, a decelerator, an output shaft of the decelerator coupled to a driven shaft of a driven machine, and a torque arm for preventing rotation of the gear motor around the driven shaft. One end of the torque arm is fixed to the gear motor and the other end is fixed to an installation seat. The torque arm is provided with a damper mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Tamura, Hiroki Awashima, Hidetaka Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9263929
    Abstract: A squirrel-cage rotor includes a laminated core provided on an outer circumference of a rotational axis, and a plurality of slots formed in the laminated core in a circumferential direction, so as to be spaced apart from each other. The cross-section shape of each slot includes an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge extending in the circumferential direction so as to face each other, and a first side portion and a second side portion extending in a radial direction so as to face each other. The radius of curvature of the inner circumferential edge is larger than that of corners on an inner circumferential side of the slot. The radius of curvature of the outer circumferential edge is larger than that of corners on an outer circumferential side of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Arimatsu
  • Patent number: 9263928
    Abstract: A system to monitor the temperature of power electronic devices in a motor drive includes a base plate defining a planar surface on which the electronic devices and/or circuit boards within the motor drive may be mounted. The power electronic devices are mounted to the base plate through the direct bond copper (DBC). A circuit board is mounted to the base plate which includes a temperature sensor mounted on the circuit board proximate to the power electronic devices. The temperature sensor generates a digital signal corresponding to the temperature measured by the sensor. A copper pad is included between each layer of the circuit board and between the first layer of the circuit board and the sensor. The circuit board also includes vias extending through each layer of the board. The copper pads and vias establish a thermally conductive path between the temperature sensor and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoran Vrankovic, Rongjun Huang, Mark Cooper, David M Brod
  • Patent number: 9257882
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle AC generator having a retainer attached on a bearing containing portion of a front bracket, thereby realizing temperature reduction in a bearing without deteriorating the cooling performance as a whole. In the vehicle AC generator, a front bracket 2 has a bearing containing portion 21 supporting a bearing 5 fitted therein, and an air inlet 22 that is provided along the outer circumference of the bearing containing portion 21 and allows cooling air from a fan 83 to pass therethrough. In addition, a retainer 15 is attached on the bearing containing portion 21, so as to cover the bearing 5. The retainer 15 has a planar shape, and has a fin 15b as a surface area increasing portion for increasing an area of contact with the cooling air, formed at a position facing to and outside the air inlet 22 in the shaft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Shirai, Masao Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9252641
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a motor including a rotor having a first axial side, a second axial side opposite the first axial side, a permanent magnet embedded therein and a stator, and configured to generate a rotational force. A reducer is configured to transmit the rotational force of the motor. A wet brake mechanism is provided on the first axial side of the rotor and is configured to brake the rotation of the motor. Spaces accommodating the motor, the reducer, and the wet brake mechanism communicate with each other so that lubricant oil can flow through the spaces. A leakage magnetic flux at a second axial end face on the second axial side of the rotor is greater than a leakage magnetic flux at a first axial end face on the first axial side of the rotor having the wet brake mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 9234528
    Abstract: A motor base includes a bottom plate and at least one vibration reduction unit. The bottom plate has opposite top and bottom surfaces. A shaft-coupling portion is arranged on the top surface. The at least one vibration reduction unit encloses the shaft-coupling portion. Each of the at least one vibration reduction unit includes at least one protrusion and at least one groove. The at least one protrusion is arranged on one of the top and bottom surfaces. The at least one groove is correspondingly arranged on the other one of the top and bottom surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Li Hsieh, Chien-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 9231309
    Abstract: A magnetic field manipulation apparatus comprises a metamaterial structure, the metamaterial structure including a multilayer stack of metamaterial layers, each metamaterial layer including a substrate supporting one or more conductive loops. The metamaterial structure may be configured to redirect the magnetic flux around the metamaterial structure, and in some examples concentrated into a gap between two adjacent metamaterial structures. An apparatus may further include a magnetic field source such as an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ercan Mehmet Dede, Jaewook Lee
  • Patent number: 9225219
    Abstract: An alternator according to the present invention includes: a shaft; a rotor that is fixed to the shaft; a stator that has a stator core that is disposed so as to surround an outer circumference of the rotor and in which a plurality of slots that extend axially are formed so as to be spaced apart circumferentially; and a front bracket and a rear bracket that hold circumferential edge portions of the stator core from two axial ends using a plurality of holding means and that envelope the stator core, a pair of first stays that are formed on the front bracket being fixed to a vehicle by bolts that penetrate through a pair of penetrating apertures that are respectively formed on the first stays, and the pair of penetrating apertures are formed at positions such that an approximate perpendicular bisector of a straight line that connects centers of the penetrating apertures intersects an axis of the shaft; and one of the holding means is disposed on the perpendicular bisector near the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi, Hideyuki Hayashi, Toshiaki Kashihara, Katsuya Akamatsu