Patents Examined by Julio C. Gonzalez Ramirez
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Patent number: 10263553Abstract: A system includes one or more synchronous generators and one or more corresponding exciters. The exciter is configured to output a field current for exciting the synchronous generator to produce a voltage and a current at an output of the synchronous generator. The system may also include one or more electric motors electrically coupled to the synchronous generator and configured to drive one or more mechanical loads. A controller included in the system is configured to identify power angle oscillations between the voltage and the current and control an exciter voltage of the exciter to damp the identified power angle oscillations.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mark Jon Blackwelder, Paul M. Rancuret
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Patent number: 10233911Abstract: Among other things, an integrated portable energy conversion mat is to be installed at a pavement surface over which a car or truck is to pass. The mat has a width at least as wide as the distance between the outermost edges of the treads of the tires located at an axle of the car or truck. The mat has a top surface over which the tires of the car or truck are to pass. The mat includes a sealed enclosed space housing and energy conversion system. The energy conversion system includes two sets of channels that extend along a length of the mat and contain hydraulic fluid under pressure. An energy converter converts energy carried by the hydraulic fluid in response to the tires of the car or truck passing over the top surface into electrical energy. An electrical port is coupled to the energy converter and exposed at an outer surface of the mat.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Energy Intelligence, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Shani, Nissim Shani, Michael Hale, Mark Frost
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Patent number: 10196921Abstract: An modular apparatus for generating electrical power in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a body comprising first and second mechanical connectors at opposing ends and first and second electrical connectors at the opposing ends, the mechanical connectors and the electrical connectors being configured to connect with the same type of corresponding connectors on another modular apparatus when the modular apparatus and the another modular apparatus are stacked together. The modular apparatus further includes: an electrical generator having a rotor and stator in mechanical communication with the first and second mechanical connectors and in electrical communication with the first and second electrical connectors; and a turbine wheel coupled to or integrated with the rotor and comprising one or more turbine blades that are configured to interact with fluid flowing through the borehole causing the turbine wheel to rotate and the rotor to rotate in order to generate the electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLCInventors: Matthias Gatzen, Sebastian Tegeler, Steffen Toscher, Cord Simon Huber, Arne Deiters
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Patent number: 10184452Abstract: A wind power generation system according to the present invention includes: a DC bus; a plurality of feeders connected to the DC bus for transmitting DC powers to the DC bus; a plurality of wind power generators; a plurality of AC/DC converters connected one by one to each of the wind power generators for converting AC powers generated by the connected wind power generators, into DC powers, and outputting the DC powers to the feeders; and a DC breaker and a diode, which serve as a current limiting unit installed on each of the feeders for preventing a DC current from flowing from the DC bus into the feeder.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuyori Tahata, Kunio Kikuchi, Makoto Miyashita, Kenji Kamei, Sho Tokoyoda
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Patent number: 10181811Abstract: To regulate the electrical output of a generator, a signal is received indicative of at least one characteristic of the electrical output. A first, relatively fast-response sub-controller is configured to provide a first control signal on the basis of the at least one characteristic and a second, relatively slow-response sub-controller is configured to provide a second control signal on the basis of the at least one characteristic. An output provides a combined control signal to adjust the electrical output based on the first and second control signals.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: BDR Thermea Group B.V.Inventors: Adam Henry Green, Angel Torres-Perez, Mícheál Gerard McArdle
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Patent number: 10179507Abstract: Provided is a vehicle in which overdischarge of a battery is protected and turning drivability of the vehicle is improved when there is even a little remaining capacity. An ECU controls the left motive force and the right motive force of the left electric motor and the right electric motor so as not to exceed a differential torque upper limit value, which is the maximum value of the difference between the left motive force and the right motive force established on the basis of the temperature or discharge limit power of the battery. When the battery is at a low temperature or the like and the discharge power is limited, the difference between the left motive force and the right motive force is controlled on the basis of the discharge limit power, whereby the turnability of the vehicle is improved while preventing the risk of damage to the battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshito Terayama, Masaki Negoro, Tomokazu Honda, Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Shintaro Yoshimi, Yoshifumi Nakamura
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Patent number: 10151246Abstract: An assistance device for a free-turbine engine of an aircraft having at least two free-turbine engines, the device including an electrical starter machine for providing prolonged assistance to the gas generator of a first engine using energy produced by an electric generator machine driven by the second engine, the device further including at least one electricity storage member electrically connected to the electrical starter machine for providing a burst of assistance to the gas generator, wherein the electrical starter machine is powered by a first power converter enabling it to exchange energy with the storage member for providing the burst of assistance, and that transmits thereto the energy supplied by a second power converter for the prolonged assistance.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINESInventors: Vincent Poumarede, Thomas Klonowski, Fabien Mercier-Calvairac, Camel Serghine
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Patent number: 10148207Abstract: A generator or another type machine includes a controlled field alternator, a segmented waveform converter, and a controller. The controlled field alternator is configured to generate a polyphase signal. The segmented waveform converter includes multiple switches connected between the polyphase signal of the controlled field alternator and an output filter. The controller is configured to provide a control signal for the switches based on measured electrical quantities associated with the output filter and provide a field current control signal to the controlled field alternator.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
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Patent number: 10141874Abstract: A system may include a prime mover configured to provide mechanical energy to the system by spinning a shaft. The system further includes a synchronous AC generator mechanically coupled to the shaft, and an exciter mechanically coupled to the shaft and configured to output a field current for exciting the synchronous AC generator. The system also includes a number of synchronous electric motors electrically coupled to the AC generator and configured to drive one or more mechanical loads. A controller of the system is configured to establish and maintain a magnetic coupling between the synchronous AC generator and the synchronous electric motors by controlling a level of the field current during a ramped increase in rotation of the synchronous AC generator from zero rotational speed. The motors accelerate synchronously with the generator due to the magnetic coupling as the rotational speed of the generator increases.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Mark Jon Blackwelder, Paul M. Rancuret
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Patent number: 10122308Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed herein for controlling a variable speed electrical generator. The method includes setting a threshold for a parameter of an output power of the generator set, operating an engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide the output power to a load, comparing the parameter of the output power to the threshold over a plurality of changes in a demand of the load, and determining whether to adjust a speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed in response to the comparison of the parameter to the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Turpin
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Patent number: 10108165Abstract: A generator system may include two or more generators electrically connected through a generator bus. A controller receives operation data from a first generator. The operation data may describe a power flow from a second generator to the first generator. From the operation data, either a loss of speed control or a loss of voltage control may be identified at the second generator. The controller may generate a command for the second generator based on the loss of speed control or the loss of voltage control.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Douglas W. Dorn
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Patent number: 10063097Abstract: An apparatus includes a controlled field alternator or utility source of electrical power, a segmented waveform converter, and a controller. The source of electrical power is configured to generate a polyphase signal. The synchronous inverter includes multiple switches connected between the polyphase signal of the source of electrical power and an output filter. The controller is configured to provide a control signal for the switches based on measured electrical quantities associated with the output filter and may provide a field control signal to the controlled field alternator. The apparatus may be applied to a vehicle, a lawnmower, a zero turn radius lawnmower, or another type of machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson, Terrence Rotter
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Patent number: 10020765Abstract: A gas turbine power generation system is configured by a gas turbine, a main power generator which is coupled to a rotor of the gas turbine through a rotation shaft, a rotation rectifier which converts a three-phase AC current into a DC current and transfers the DC current to a field magnet winding wire of the main power generator, an AC exciter which is configured by an armature winding wire, a d-axis field magnet winding wire, and a q-axis field magnet winding wire, and transfers the three-phase AC current generated at the armature winding wire to the rotation rectifier, an excitation device which drives the AC exciter at the time of start-up of the main power generator, and an excitation power supply which supplies a current to the excitation device.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Michio Kataoka, Masaru Shimomura
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Patent number: 10006438Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating at least a first wind turbine including the steps of: recording a tower oscillation, initiating a measure to reduce oscillation if the tower oscillation is or contains a longitudinal oscillation, and if the amplitude of the longitudinal oscillation exceeds a predefined threshold value, and the measure for reducing the oscillation comprises freezing the current pitch angle at the current value for a predefined freezing period, switching the pitch control algorithm used, in particular in such a way that the control speed is reduced, adjusting the yaw position by a predefined yaw angle, switching the operation of the first wind turbine from a first operating mode based on a first power curve to a second operating mode based on a second power curve, and/or if, with regard to the current wind direction, the first wind turbine in a wind park is located behind a second wind turbine, adjusting the rotational speed of the first wind turbine to the rotational speed of theType: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Wolfgang de Boer
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Patent number: 9972993Abstract: An electrical system for controlling a wind turbine is provided. The electrical system includes a first resistive element, a storage element and a controller. The first resistive element and the storage element are coupled to a DC link of the wind turbine. The controller is used for switching between the first resistive element and the storage element in response to a grid side fault condition to minimize mechanical loads induced by the grid side fault condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Rajni Kant Burra, Victor Robert Abate, David Cole Magnuson, Keith Longtin
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Patent number: 9893563Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a wind turbine electrical power configured to minimize power losses. The power system includes a generator having a generator stator and a generator rotor, a power converter electrically coupled to the generator, a main transformer electrically coupled to the power converter and the power grid, and an auxiliary transformer. More specifically, the main transformer is connected to the power grid via a voltage line comprising a voltage switch gear. Thus, the auxiliary transformer is connected directly to the voltage line, i.e. rather than being connected to the grid through the main transformer.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Till Hoffmann, Werner Gerhard Barton, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
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Patent number: 9819292Abstract: A method includes combusting a fuel and an oxidant in a combustor of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas turbine system that produces electrical power and provides a portion of the electrical power to an electrical grid. The method further includes controlling, via one or more processors, one or more parameters of the EGR gas turbine system to decrease the portion of the electrical power provided to the electrical grid in response to an over-frequency event associated with the electrical grid, wherein controlling the one or more parameters comprises decreasing a flow rate of fuel to the combustor in response to the over-frequency event.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Aaron Lavene Vorel
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Patent number: 9789770Abstract: The invention relates to a work machine, in particular in the form of a dump truck or truck, having a diesel electric traction drive, wherein at least one alternator is or can be driven by at least one internal combustion engine of the work machine. In accordance with the invention, the current generation can also be reliably interruptible with a running internal combustion engine by interruption of the excitation circuit by means of a breaker switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SASInventors: Adrien Levaray, Bernd Sommer, Scott Bellamy
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Patent number: 9735718Abstract: A method for controlling an alternator includes determining a temperature-dependent value associated with a battery coupled to an alternator and determining an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent value associated with the battery. The method further includes initiating, by a controller of an alternator, at least one safety measure upon a determination that a voltage associated with the battery exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Martin Grafling, Christoph Seidl
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Patent number: 9611831Abstract: A marine turbine comprising a stator, a rotor, the rotor being able to be driven in rotation around an axis or rotation by a stream of a liquid, and at least one first bearing for supporting the rotor, the or each first bearing, comprising a magnetic stator element secured to the stator and magnetic rotor element secured to the rotor. The marine turbine further comprises at least one second bearing for supporting the rotor, the or each second bearing comprising at least one rolling element.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTDInventors: Hugo Duchene, Philippe Cagnin