Patents Examined by Charles Reid, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9048725
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric device with a winding (12) and means for inducing a current in the winding. A bridge circuit (400) electrically connects the winding (12) to a load (13). According to the invention the bridge circuit (400) includes capacitor means (401, 402), which is adapted for obtaining resonance with the impedance of the winding (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Seabased AB
    Inventors: Mats Leijon, Cecilia Bostrom, Mikael Eriksson
  • Patent number: 9046074
    Abstract: A split collar mountable turbine that can be assembled in two separate halves and adapted to be attached circumferentially around existing structures. Top and bottom attachment rings each comprise first and second arcuate elements adapted to interconnect circumferentially about an axis to form two rings. A fan blade housing ring comprising first and second arcuate elements, adapted to interface into complimentary slots within the top and bottom rings, and also adapted to interconnect circumferentially about an axis to form a fan blade housing ring and is received in complimentary slots. The fan blade housing ring moves in tracks located in the top and bottom rings. Located within the fan blade housing are two pair of off-axis electrical generators driven by rotation of said fan blade housing to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Lilu Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh N. Patel, Darmesh M. Patel
  • Patent number: 9045995
    Abstract: An electronics rack with a cooling apparatus and a liquid-coolant-driven, electricity-generating system. The generating system includes a housing coupled in fluid communication with a fluid transport pipe of the cooling apparatus, an impeller disposed within the housing and positioned to turn with flow of fluid across the impeller, one or more magnetic structures disposed to turn with turning of the impeller, and an electrical circuit. Electricity is generated for the electrical circuit with turning of the one or more magnetic structures, and is supplied to an electrical load disposed within or associated with the electronics rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David P. Graybill, Allan R. Hoeft, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Donald W. Porter, Enrico A. Romano, Roger R. Schmidt, Gerard V. Weber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9041240
    Abstract: A wind turbine apparatus includes a wind turbine, a support column supporting the wind turbine, and a turning base as a base for the support column, the turning base including a turning gear and a turning base shaft. By turning the turning gear 360 degrees or more, only the wind turbine, or the support column and the wind turbine can turn 360 degrees or more about a rotating axis of the turning gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Tadashi Ishimine
  • Patent number: 9041238
    Abstract: A variable wing venturi generator and a housing for the same are presented. The wings are variable in that their relative position may be changed and optimized to maximize airflow through a turbine and generator contained between the wings. The invention allows for improved efficiency in wind generation. The device accelerates wind speed between a pair of adjustable venturi wings and is especially suited for low wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Ned McMahon
  • Patent number: 9018783
    Abstract: Wind turbine systems and methods are provided. An exemplary system includes a wind driven doubly fed induction generator having a rotor and a stator, the stator providing AC power to a stator bus. The system further includes a power converter coupled to the rotor of the doubly fed induction generator, the power converter providing an output to a line bus, and a transformer coupled to the stator bus. The system further includes a solid-state switch coupled between the stator bus and the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald C. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9013053
    Abstract: A multi-type wind turbine is provided such that a plurality of arms are combined with one tower in a radial direction, and a unit generator having a blade is provided at the plurality of arms, respectively, and at least two of the unit generators are rotated in opposite directions to each other. Furthermore, both ends of the arm may be located both sides thereof on the basis of the height directional central line of the tower to be fixed thereto or both ends of the arm may be located at one side of the tower to be rotatably combined therewith. Furthermore, the rotation speed and tilt angle of the blade of the unit generator may controlled in an individual manner or controlled in a grouped manner. Furthermore, the unit generator may include a main blade and a sub-blade which is smaller than the main blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Hak Lee, Sang Il Lee, Jong Po Park
  • Patent number: 9006919
    Abstract: An adaptive system for harvesting hydrokinetic energy from flowing fluid uses a hydrofoil-type vane in a flow-way and an electrical power generator to convert torque generated by the oscillating vane to electrical current. The generator may be electromagnetic or piezoelectric. The system includes a control module that measures the oscillation of the vane, the generated torque, or the characteristics of the generated current, and modifies the resistance of the vane or the conversion of the electrical current in response to changes therein. Some systems include a frame that can be anchored in a body of water. Some systems are portable and provide illumination. Some systems are adapted for use as hiking or camping gear and may be inserted into stream beds or used as walking sticks. Some systems are in-line devices. Some systems are adapted as fishing lures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Gerard J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 8987929
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a wind farm are disclosed. The method includes detecting an operating condition of an upwind wind generator, the upwind wind generator located upstream of a downwind wind generator relative to a wind flow direction. The method further includes communicating a control signal to the downwind wind generator. The control signal is based on the operating condition. The method further includes beginning to adjust the downwind wind generator according to the control signal before the wind flow is experienced by the downwind wind generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aditya Jayant, Shimnamol Padmanabhan Nair, Vincent Arokiasamy, Santhosha Yelwal Srikanta
  • Patent number: 8987925
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-contained, EMP shielded underground power plant. The power plant includes a housing with a round aluminum cover, a round gravity dish bottom, a carbon steel, cylindrical side connecting the cover and the bottom, and eight turnbuckles for securing the cover to the side. A generator, a battery bank, and an inverter charger that charges the battery bank are disposed within the housing. The power plant also includes air inlet and outlet manifolds baffled and covered with copper screens. The air inlet manifold includes an air filter. Exhaust air and cooling air leaving the generator are forced out of the housing through the air outlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Walton W. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8975768
    Abstract: Wind turbine systems and methods for operating wind turbine systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes gating on a dynamic brake switch of a dynamic brake in a wind turbine power converter when an experienced direct current (DC) bus voltage is equal to or greater than a threshold DC bus voltage. The method further includes disabling a threshold temperature rating for the dynamic brake switch when the dynamic brake switch is gated on, and gating off the dynamic brake switch when the experienced DC bus voltage is less than the threshold DC bus voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electic Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Amy M. Ridenour
  • Patent number: 8946922
    Abstract: A reverse flow hydro electric turbine electrical generating system is present. It is labeled “reverse flow” in that the flow of the water driving the turbine is flowing against the force of gravity or, essentially up hill. The turbine system is comprised of a penstock for the intake of a flow of water current (as in a river or ocean stream) disposed at a depth equaling from about one atmosphere of pressure to as much as eight or more atmospheres. An amount of air is injected into the stream entering the penstock to about saturate to slightly supersaturate the solution, from which it enters a venturi-type reducer and then is piped upwardly to the turbine assembly. Attached to the top of the turbine assembly is a stand of relief pipes to carry the exhausting water to the surface for discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Johnny C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8922033
    Abstract: A power generation system is provided having a genset comprising an engine mechanically coupled to a generator. The genset is configured to generate electrical power. A ventilation system has a ventilation inlet and a ventilation outlet, and the ventilation system is configured for cooling at least one of the engine and the generator. Both the ventilation inlet and ventilation outlet have an adjustable shutter configured for adjusting a flow volume of a coolant medium through the ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sadhasivam Vallinayagam, Atanu Phukan
  • Patent number: 8912675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reactive power regulation in a wind turbine comprising a local reactive power control system adapted to operate in a central control mode and a local control mode, a method of reactive power regulation in a wind park connected to an electrical grid, and to a wind park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Wind, S.L.U.
    Inventors: Montserrat Mata Dumenjó, Jordi Carulla Piera, Oriol Gomis Bellmunt
  • Patent number: 8884451
    Abstract: To provide a diesel hybrid vehicle system that does not need to additionally include a simulated sound generator and that is capable of achieving reduction in size, weight and cost of a vehicle. Not only during running of a vehicle, but even when a diesel engine is stopped at the time of starting up the vehicle or during braking control of the vehicle and when an output of the diesel engine is reduced during coasting of the vehicle, a propeller fan of a radiator is forcibly driven to generate a wind sound caused by the propeller fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 8878376
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wind turbine having an additional mass each placed between a mounting end and a free end of at least two rotor blades. This invention further relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine with a pitch system for pitching a blade in a pitch angle and with blades with a mass for increased inertia, which wind turbine is operated in a normal operation mode in which a generator has a generator speed at a generator torque, and which wind turbine is to remain electrically coupled to a grid during a low voltage condition and with supplied current specifications, torque reference, power references, or according to a grid code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Envision Energy (Denmark) ApS
    Inventor: Jens Birk
  • Patent number: 8847418
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow power plant, comprising a water turbine having torsionally rigid rotor blades, a drive train connected to the water turbine, which at least indirectly drives an electric generator and is characterized in that at inflow speeds v for which the flow power plant is designed, the water turbine is configured to be non-auto-restarting for tip speed ratios ? below a predetermined auto-restart tip speed ratio ?s where ?s?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Raphael Arlitt, Frank Biskup, Jochen Weilepp