Patents Examined by Joseph Waks
  • Patent number: 9531246
    Abstract: A fluid-driven electricity generator includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator core that includes a plurality of stator windings and one or more stator turbines connected to the stator core. The one or more stator turbines are configured to rotate in a first direction. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of permanent magnets that are substantially surrounded by the stator core. The rotor assembly also includes one or more rotor turbines connected to the plurality of permanent magnets. The one or more rotor turbines are configured to rotate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Grover Curtis Harris
  • Patent number: 9531240
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a generator having a generator cooling system configured for passage of a cooling fluid, and a gear unit including a gear unit cooling system configured for passage of a cooling fluid. The gear unit cooling system includes a recooling unit which is configured to transmit during normal operation of the wind turbine thermal energy from the cooling fluid of the gear unit cooling system to air inside the generator or to the cooling fluid of the generator cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Matthias Deicke
  • Patent number: 9520757
    Abstract: The dual-shaft gas turbine power generation system includes: a high-pressure gas turbine; a first rotating shaft connecting a compressor and the high-pressure gas turbine; an electric motor connected to the first rotating shaft; a governor which adjusts the amount of air taken into the compressor; a low-pressure gas turbine; a second rotating shaft connected to the low-pressure gas turbine; a synchronous power generator connected to the second rotating shaft; a frequency converter which converts the frequency of power transmitted between the synchronous power generator and the electric motor; and a control device which controls a frequency converter control device for controlling the frequency converter, and the governor, on the basis of a power output command value indicating the power to be outputted to an external grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Hino, Naohiro Kusumi, Kazuo Takahashi, Tomomichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9513614
    Abstract: An electric power system for a wind turbine includes at least one auxiliary load bus configured to transmit electric power to auxiliary equipment. The auxiliary load bus is further configured to receive electric power having a voltage within a first predetermined tolerance range. The system also includes at least one motor-generator set coupled to the auxiliary load bus. The motor-generator set is configured to receive electric power having a voltage within a second predetermined tolerance range and transmit electric power to the auxiliary load bus in the first predetermined tolerance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harold Robert Schnetzka, Timothy Wilcox Jayko, Theodore Steven Wilmot, Branislav Vujanovic
  • Patent number: 9506450
    Abstract: A submersible power generator with an inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism provided with an outer rotational armature and an inner rotational armature opposing the outer rotational armature and rotatable in a direction opposite of the outer rotational armature, and a pair of propellers disposed coaxially with blades of each of the pairs of propellers twists in opposite directions relative to an extending direction of a central axis of the pair of propellers, and a casing for accommodating and shielding the inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism. The submersible power generator, as installed under water to operate in a current, has a buoyancy F acting thereon that is larger than gravity W acting thereon during operation of the submersible power generator due to gravity acting on the mooring wire, so that F>W+gravity acting on the mooring wire?buoyancy acting on the mooring wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOWA ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kanemoto, Isao Samura
  • Patent number: 9506448
    Abstract: Alternative hydroelectric power plant uses a volume of water necessary for operation in a closed circuit. Hydroelectric power plant consists of a structure for mounting a head water reservoir at a requisite height, the structure including a building with a machine room, a device for supplying water to a hydraulic turbine, the head water reservoir and a tail water reservoir and balanced conveyor-type water-lifting apparatuses which can be set into motion by wind energy, starting from a low-velocity wind, by the energy from the water used in the hydraulic turbine and by the actual hydraulic turbine, by transmitting rotational motion from the hydraulic turbine to the conveyor-type water-lifting apparatuses, which provide for lifting water to the requisite height in order to create the pressure necessary for operation of the hydraulic turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Valeriy Mihaylovich Doronin
  • Patent number: 9506449
    Abstract: A submersible power generator with an inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism provided with an outer rotational armature and an opposing inner rotational armature to rotate opposite to the outer rotational armature, and a pair of propellers, where one of the propellers is connected to one of the inner and outer rotational armatures and the other of the propellers is connected to the other armatures, and a casing for accommodating the inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism and shielding it from an external environment. The submersible power generator is installed under water to operate in a water current with a gravity W that is larger than buoyancy F acting thereon during operation of the submersible power generator, and makes a rotational moment center that a sum total of rotational moments generated by gravity W, buoyancy F, and drag D in a water current becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOWA ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kanemoto, Isao Samura
  • Patent number: 9506370
    Abstract: A generator system fluidly connected between a first preexisting pipe and a second preexisting pipe comprising a generator with a first preexisting pipe flange and a second preexisting pipe flange, without forming any holes in the first and second preexisting pipes. A first and second generator flange for engaging a non-magnetic section of pipe and the preexisting pipes and a plurality of coils secured to the non-magnetic section of pipe. A plurality of rare earth magnets secured to an outer surface of a rotating drum or a propeller and configured to energize the plurality of coils. At least one radial bearing, a thrust bearing and a junction box electrically connected to the plurality of coils for receiving energy produced by the plurality of coils and for transmitting a current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TAZMAN TUBINZ, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Kaiser, Bryon D. Hodges, James R. Oldham
  • Patent number: 9500181
    Abstract: Controlling operation of a wind turbine coupled to a power grid is disclosed. The power grid is monitored in order to determine whether or not there is a match between a demand for energy defined by power consumers connected to the power grid and supply of energy from power producers connected to the power grid. For instance, the price of energy may be monitored. In the case that the supply of energy from power producers exceeds the demand for energy, and a deficiency between the demand for energy and the supply of energy exceeds a first threshold value, the energy flow through the generator is reversed, thereby causing the generator to consume power received from the power grid. Thereby the deficiency can be reduced and the power grid can be stabilised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Tune Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9494126
    Abstract: An installation for generating electrical energy from hydropower includes a drive arrangement that revolves around two deflection units distanced to one another and that can be driven in a revolving direction, with a load section running along a gradient. The drive arrangement includes a plurality of gravitational pressure transmission units that are arranged one after the other in the revolving direction, are distanced to one another and, in each case, include an onflow element. The installation also includes a generator for generating electrical energy from the revolving drive arrangement. The gravitational pressure transmission units include guide elements, and the installation includes at least one guide rail along the load section, in which guide rail guide elements of the gravitational pressure transmission units are displaceable so that the gravitational pressure transmission units, at least in the region of the load section, are guided between the two deflection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Felix Widmer
  • Patent number: 9494128
    Abstract: A plant for extracting electric energy from water power. The plant has an energy extraction module designed as an assembly unit, and includes a drive arrangement, with a multiplicity of flow-impinged components, which can be driven in a circulating direction by water power, two spaced-apart deflection elements around which the drive arrangement is guided in a circulating manner, an electric power generator for extracting electric energy from the circulating drive arrangement, a water conveying duct for forming water receiving compartments interacting with the flow-impinged components, and also a module frame, to which are connected the drive arrangement, the deflection elements, the electric power generator and the water conveying duct. The module frame includes an interface via which the energy extraction module is connected to a sub-structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Felix Widmer, Martin Ruge, Markus Felix
  • Patent number: 9488155
    Abstract: An ocean current power generating apparatus using dual-duct with boundary layer control effect is provided. The ocean current power generating apparatus with dual-duct includes at least one power generating unit. The power generating unit includes a turbine, an inner duct and an outer duct. The turbine has a shaft box. The turbine is located inside the inner duct. An outer diameter of an inflow side of the inner duct is less than an outer diameter of an outflow side of the inner duct. The outflow side of the inner duct is located inside the outer duct. An outer diameter of an inflow side of the outer duct is less than an outer diameter of an outflow side of the outer duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: National Taiwan Ocean University
    Inventor: Young-Zehr Kehr
  • Patent number: 9490680
    Abstract: In a power generation facility, there are provided a plurality of diesel engines, a plurality of turbochargers driven by exhaust gas from the diesel engines, a plurality of power generators connected to the plurality of turbochargers, a plurality of converters for converting AC power generated by the plurality of power generators to DC power, one inverter for converting the DC power outputted from the plurality of converters to AC power, and a main controller for controlling the converters in accordance with the AC power from the inverter, by which stable electric power can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Keiichi Shiraishi, Yoshihisa Ono
  • Patent number: 9490681
    Abstract: An electric generator includes a housing with a stator positioned thereabout. A rotor (i.e., magnetic member) is positioned within the housing and is adapted to move within the housing in response to a pulsed air input, such as from a pulsed-air exhaust device. The pulsed air input creates a pressure chamber between the pulsed air input and the magnetic member, which forces the magnetic member to axially advance in a first direction through the housing to magnetically interact with the stator to generate electric current therein. A biasing member may be positioned within the housing and in operative communication with the magnetic member. The magnetic member may compress the biasing member in the first direction, but the biasing member may exert a spring-back force against the magnetic member to force the magnetic member in a second direction through the stator to magnetically interact therewith to generate additional electric current therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Warren A. Seith
  • Patent number: 9488102
    Abstract: A drive system for driving a load by a gas turbine. The gas turbine comprises a gas generator having a gas-generator rotor and comprising at least one gas-generator compressor and one high-pressure turbine driving the gas-generator compressor. The gas turbine further comprises a power turbine having a power-turbine rotor, which is torsionally independent of the gas-generator rotor. The load is connected to the power-turbine rotor. The system further comprises an electric motor/generator mechanically connected to the gas-generator rotor and electrically connected to an electric power grid. The electric motor/generator is adapted to function alternatively: as a generator for converting mechanical power from the gas turbine into electrical power; and as a motor for supplementing driving power to the load. A set of movable nozzle guide vanes is arranged at the inlet of the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventor: Marco Santini
  • Patent number: 9490736
    Abstract: A variable power generator comprises one of a stator and a rotor which is adjustably movable through an infinite number of positions from being proximate to one another so that their magnetic fields overlap to a position such that the rotor is most distant from the stator and has little overlap of magnetic field strength. The variable power generator in operation may comprise one of a rotor and a stator being out of phase with one another by an angle, for example, the one of the rotor or the stator leading or lagging the other. In this instance, a motor such as a servo motor may be used to rotationally compensate for the out-of-phase angle by radially moving the rotor with respect to the stator or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Differential Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Soo Han
  • Patent number: 9476401
    Abstract: A marine hydrokinetic electric power generator comprises one of a stator and a rotor which is adjustably movable through an infinite number of positions from being proximate to one another so that their magnetic fields overlap mostly to a position such that the rotor is most distant from the stator and has little overlap of magnetic field strength. Hatch and speed control may be also provided by a spur/helical gear assembly of sun and planetary gear sets referred to herein as a Transgearâ„¢ gear assembly. The variable (or fixed) power generator in operation may comprise one of a rotor and a stator being out of phase with one another by an angle, for example, the one of the rotor or the stator leading or lagging the other and the phase angle, frequency or voltage of output power to a power grid corrected responsive to inputs from the power grid and the marine hydrokinetic turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Differential Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Soo Han
  • Patent number: 9476405
    Abstract: A wind turbine for converting wind energy into electric energy using a primary and secondary pivotable wind rotor. The rotors of the wind turbine have a horizontal and a vertical axis. The secondary rotor rotates independently from the wind, enabling a continuous production of electric energy, which is advantageous in that the turbine overcomes drawbacks in intermittent wind speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ENEL GREEN POWER, S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luigi La Pegna, Renzo Piano
  • Patent number: 9435319
    Abstract: A wind power generation assembly having a rotatable base. Attached to the base are a plurality of arcuate panels that surround a turbine assembly. The center axis of the base and the center axis of the turbine assembly are offset. The panels are positioned to capture the wind and redirect the wind energy to the turbine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Mackie, Brent Harper, Tim Holzmann
  • Patent number: 9431928
    Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy from mechanical motion includes a magnetostrictive generator configured to be mechanically coupled to a power conveyance path in a well bore. The power conveyance path is configured to experience an axial force change, and the magnetostrictive generator includes at least one magnetostrictive element that experiences a corresponding force change that results in a change in magnetic permeability in the at least one magnetostrictive element resulting, and is configured to experience a change in magnetic flux in a least one component that is electromagnetically coupled to at least one conductive coil, and the conductive coil is configured to generate electricity due to these magnetic flux changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Oscilla Power Inc.
    Inventor: James H Dudley