Patents Examined by Joseph Ortega
  • Patent number: 11719101
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a drive shaft system. In embodiments, the drive shaft system includes a generator shaft extending along a longitudinal axis with a longitudinal bore defined through the generator shaft. A thru shaft extends through the longitudinal bore of the generator shaft. In embodiments, the thru shaft includes, a front coupler mount at a first end operative to receive torque input, and a rear coupler mount at a second end opposite the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: David Menheere
  • Patent number: 11719229
    Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move blocks from the higher elevation to the lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The blocks remain vertically spaced from each other, and a vertical distance between the lower elevation and the higher elevation of each of the blocks is the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Energy Vault, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Mauro Pedretti-Rodi
  • Patent number: 11708812
    Abstract: An energy harnessing device for harnessing wave energy that results in pitch, sway, yaw, surge, roll, and heave movement, wherein the device effectively converts multiaxial translational and rotational motion to unidirectional rotational motion for power transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventors: Sacheth Sathyanarayanan, Sairandri Sathyanarayanan
  • Patent number: 11705777
    Abstract: This disclosure describes novel hybrid energy storage systems for providing short-term and long-term storage and delivery of electricity generated by any energy source including renewable energy sources such as solar energy and wind energy. The hybrid energy storage systems described herein have a higher overall real-world efficiency than energy storage systems currently available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Dimension Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Hwa Kim, Richard Dale Olmsted
  • Patent number: 11703033
    Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for determining a yaw heading (?heading) of a wind turbine, the wind turbine having a tower and a nacelle that includes a machine head and rotor at a top thereof. The method includes configuring a single rover receiver of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) at a fixed position relative to the nacelle. A GNSS geographic location of a tower top pivot point (TPP) of the wind turbine is determined, as well as an angular offset of the rover receiver (?rover) relative to a centerline axis of the nacelle. Based on the GNSS geo-location of the TPP and a GNSS geo-location of the rover receiver, an angular vector () relative to North of a line between the TPP and the rover receiver is determined. The yaw heading (?heading) is computed from a difference between the angle () and the angular offset (?rover) of the rover receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard P. Landa, Pierino Gianni Bonanni, Xu Fu
  • Patent number: 11692524
    Abstract: Disclosed is buoyant wave energy capture device, adapted to float adjacent to an upper surface of a body of water over which waves pass, and adapted to capture a portion of the radiated waves created by its own rising and falling in response to incident and/or passing environmental waves. A power take off mechanism combined with the disclosed wave energy capture device may be tuned to a specific wave frequency, and thereby optimally extract energy from a motion of a single frequency, even the wave energy capture device may be excited and/or energized by waves of any of a relatively broad range of frequencies, thereby increasing the power-generation and cost efficiencies of such devices relative to wave energy conversion devices of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: LONE GULL HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Brian Lee Moffat, Grzegorz Piotr Filip
  • Patent number: 11686289
    Abstract: A method to control the operational status of a wind turbine is provided. An operator communication interface establishes a wireless point-to-point communication to a wind turbine communication interface. The wind turbine communication interface is an integrated part of the wind turbine. A control signal is transmitted from the operator communication interface via the point-to-point communication to the turbine communication interface. The control signal is transferred from the turbine communication interface to an internal control system of the wind turbine. The internal control system of the wind turbine changes the operational status of the wind turbine based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Samuel H. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11671040
    Abstract: A turbomachine and method for operating a turbomachine comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component each defining a rotatable speed mechanically independent of one another, and an electric machine electrically coupled to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component such that a load level relative to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component is adjustable is generally provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 11664694
    Abstract: A motor rotor includes an inner sleeve, a cylindrical permanent magnet disposed around the inner sleeve, and a resin portion formed by charging a gap between the inner sleeve and the permanent magnet with a resin. The inner sleeve includes a small diameter portion. The small diameter portion is located to face an inner peripheral surface of an end portion of the permanent magnet in an axial direction. The small diameter portion is formed to have a diameter smaller than a diameter of a portion facing an inner peripheral surface of a center portion of the permanent magnet in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kai Iijima, Hikaru Sugiura, Yuji Sasaki, Tatsuya Fukui, Yoshihito Katsu, Ryosuke Yumoto
  • Patent number: 11661858
    Abstract: A turbine generator comprising a turbine rotor comprising a hub and one or more blade stages. Each stage comprising a circumferential array of rotor blades in driving engagement with the hub. A turbine stator comprising a hub and one or more vane stages, each stage comprising a circumferential array of vanes. The turbine rotor and turbine stator being concentrically arranged about a common axis to define an annular flow path. The vane stages and blade stages being axially spaced along the axis and having one or more magnets arranged on the rotor. A generator stator concentrically aligned with the turbine rotor and turbine stator and one or more magnets arranged on the rotor. In use, when the turbine is driven to rotate about the axis, the or each of the magnets on the turbine rotor rotate relative to the generator stator in order to generate electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Matthew L Strange, Gareth J Roberts
  • Patent number: 11661919
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a controller, a state estimate of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a current condition of the wind turbine using, at least, the state estimate, the current condition defining a set of condition parameters of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes receiving, via the controller, a control function from a supervisory controller, the control function defining a relationship of the set of condition parameters with at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine. Moreover, the method includes dynamically controlling, via the controller, the wind turbine based on the current condition and the control function for multiple dynamic control intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick Wilson Wheeler, Dayu Huang, George Theodore Dalakos, Ameet Shridhar Deshpande, Su Liu, Dhiraj Arora, Siyun Wang
  • Patent number: 11658512
    Abstract: An energy storage system stores power received from a power grid as potential energy in compressed earth materials. The energy storage system includes a motor-generator coupled to an anchor via a tensile member. The motor-generator is configured to apply a tensile force to the tensile member. The tensile force causes the motor-generator and the anchor to apply a compression force to the earth materials in the ground, and causes the anchor to displace, thereby storing the received power as potential energy. The energy storage system provides power to the power grid by relieving some of the tensile force on the tensile member and thereby relieving some of the compression force on the earth materials. The anchor displaces towards its original position, and thereby causes the motor-generator to generate electrical power from the stored potential energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Nicholas Lusich
  • Patent number: 11649806
    Abstract: A method of installing a wind turbine generator onto a floating foundation. The floating foundation has variable buoyancy and is pre-ballasted to float at a predetermined vertical position before installation of a wind turbine generator component onto the floating foundation. A wind turbine generator component supported by lifting equipment is brought towards the floating foundation until contact is made with the floating foundation. Ballast is removed from the floating foundation to increase the buoyancy of the floating foundation such that weight of the wind turbine generator component supported by the floating foundation is increased from substantially zero to substantially the entire weight of the wind turbine generator component. The vertical position of the floating foundation is substantially unchanged during transferring weight of the wind turbine generator component onto the floating foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Alf Olsen
  • Patent number: 11643973
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrically gear turbofan that includes a fan; a first spool shaft; and an electrical gearbox including: an armature winding connected to the first spool shaft and coupled to a power source; and a magnetic receiver connected to the fan, and wherein an air gap is defined between the armature winding and the magnetic receiver. The turbines and electrical gearing enable an operator to rotate the spool shaft at a first rotational speed; power an armature winding to generate an armature magnetic field, wherein the armature magnetic field rotates at a second rotational speed; transfer rotational energy via the armature magnetic field from the spool shaft to the magnetic receiver; and rotate the fan at a third rotational speed. In some aspects, the third rotational speed is controlled via a direction and a magnitude of the second rotational speed relative to the first rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Shengyi Liu
  • Patent number: 11646579
    Abstract: Electrical systems for connecting rotary electric machines with gas turbine spools are provided. One such electrical system includes: a first rotary electric machine; a second rotary electric machine; a first set of bidirectional converter circuits; a second set of bidirectional converter circuits; and DC outputs for connection with an R-channel network. Each electrical machine is mechanically coupled with a respective gas turbine spool and has an identical even number N?4 of phases, each phase having a respective index and including an identical number P?1 of coils wound in a P-plex configuration in which adjacent phases are radially separated by 2?/NP mechanical radians. Each of the first and second converter circuits converts AC to and from DC, has a respective index n, and is connected with the P coils in the nth phase of the first and second rotary electric machines, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Stephen M Husband, Jeffrey Hobday, Graham P Bruce, David F Brookes
  • Patent number: 11637479
    Abstract: A linear generator includes one or more helices, and one or more magnet members movable relative to a first helix to generate electric energy within the first helix. The first helix includes a first coil. The first helix and/or the magnet members have a density less than that of water such that the first helix and/or the magnet members have buoyant properties when the linear generator is at least partially submerged in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: P TECH, LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Justin E. Beyers, Tonya M. Bierman
  • Patent number: 11634997
    Abstract: An engine housing of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of leg members. An air intake space is formed between the plurality of leg members. A shroud case supported by the engine housing is disposed in the air intake space. A rotary electric machine housing of a rotary electric machine system includes a rectifying member. The rectifying member includes a distal end facing toward the shroud case, and the distal end is inserted inside the shroud case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Yazaki, Tatsuya Choji, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 11624350
    Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes receiving, via a controller, one or more reference commands from an external controller. The method also includes determining, via the controller, one or more control commands for the inverter-based resource based on the one or more reference commands. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, at least one feedforward signal as a function of the one or more control commands, one or more control signals, and one or more estimated electrical conditions of the inverter-based resource. The method also includes using the feedforward signal(s) to position at least one control angle of the inverter-based resource to an anticipated value needed to achieve the one or more reference commands, thereby enabling rapid response to the one or more reference commands received from the external controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Patent number: 11614075
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and system to monitor and advise the status of a group of floating platforms, such as offshore floating wind platforms, by using a floating platform's motion in the group and detect one or more anomalies to identify one or more disorders (including irregularities) in the group. Input for this method can include information of wind speed and direction and orientations of the wind turbine nacelles. The orientation of the platform can complement the orientation of a wind turbine nacelle on the platform in case the platform is equipped with a turret. Disorders include, but not limited to, mooring line failure, shifts of a drag anchor, other issues with the mooring system components such as fairleads, issues with the ballasting configuration of the floater, issues with the turret (if any), issues with the swivel of the nacelle, issues with the rotor, and issues with the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNIP ENERGIES FRANCE
    Inventors: Djoni Eka Sidarta, Nicolas Tcherniguin
  • Patent number: 11614071
    Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a wind turbine, an associated wind turbine and a wind park. The method comprises a) providing an indicator for the occurrence of a flow separation on a pressure side of a rotor blade of a rotor of the wind turbine, and b) changing an operational management of the wind turbine using the indicator, wherein the indicator comprises a pitch angle of the rotor blade. By using the pitch angle as an indicator, a flow separation on the pressure side of the rotor blade can be effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Messing, Carl Michael Schwarz