Patents Examined by Julio C. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10199969
    Abstract: A method of operation of a turbogenerator system is described. The system comprises a plurality of turbogenerators provided in parallel and in fluid communication with a gas stream. The method comprises identifying one or more of the turbogenerators which are currently operating closest to their maximum power output, and adjusting the speed of one or more of the turbogenerators to cause the power outputs of the plurality of turbogenerators to become more similar. In this way, it is possible to match the power output of the plurality of turbogenerators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bowman Power Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathon McGuire, Shinri Szymko
  • Patent number: 10193480
    Abstract: A regulating loop for a digital regulator of an excitation rotating electric machine for operation as a generator delivering an output voltage tailored by an excitation current. The digital regulator comprises a control device for controlling the excitation current and the regulating loop comprises, at input, a measuring device for measurement by sampling the output voltage generating a measurement signal (Um), an calculation device generating an error signal (e) equal to a difference between the measurement signal (Um) and a setpoint (U0), a processing system for processing of the error signal (e) generating a regulating signal (Ysat) comprising in parallel a first amplifier, an integrator and an anti-saturation system, and comprising, at output, a generation system for generation of a control signal (PWM) controlling the control device as a function of the regulating signal (Ysat). The anti-saturation system is a conditional detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Pierre Chassard, Pierre Tisserand, Laurent Labiste, Geoffrey Massemin
  • Patent number: 10184452
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyori Tahata, Kunio Kikuchi, Makoto Miyashita, Kenji Kamei, Sho Tokoyoda
  • Patent number: 10186931
    Abstract: A generator includes a multi-chamber generator enclosure, an engine mounted within the multi-chamber generator enclosure, and an alternator driven by the engine and positioned within at least one chamber of the multi-chamber generator enclosure. The generator also includes an exhaust system operatively coupled to the engine and extending from the engine through at least the at least one chamber of the multi-chamber generator enclosure having the alternator therein, and a heat shield substantially surrounding the exhaust system in the at least one chamber of the multi-chamber enclosure generator containing the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Champion Engine Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Leigh Jenison, Ian Schmit, James J. Dehn, Mark J. Sarder
  • Patent number: 10181769
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine is disclosed having a first inner magnetic field unit, arranged on a first crank web of a crankshaft, and a stationary first outer magnetic field unit, wherein the first inner magnetic field unit and the first outer magnetic field unit together form a first electromagnetic converter, in particular an electric motor or an electric generator. The first crank web has a first compensating weight on a side that is opposite a first connecting rod bearing and that faces radially outwards in relation to a crankshaft axis, wherein the first compensating weight is made of a non-magnetizable material. The first inner magnetic field unit is arranged on a side of the first compensating weight that faces outwards in relation to the crankshaft axis. The invention also relates to a system comprising the reciprocating piston engine, an energy store, an electric control unit and a crankshaft sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HVD AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuttenbach Von, Karl-Heinz Grabher
  • Patent number: 10179507
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshito Terayama, Masaki Negoro, Tomokazu Honda, Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Shintaro Yoshimi, Yoshifumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10181811
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BDR Thermea Group B.V.
    Inventors: Adam Henry Green, Angel Torres-Perez, Mícheál Gerard McArdle
  • Patent number: 10174671
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine including a supercharger and a waste gate valve, the supercharger including a compressor an electric motor, and a turbine, the turbine being provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, the waste gate valve being provided in a bypass passage that bypasses the turbine, the control device includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to drive the electric motor in a high-load operation state in which the load of the internal combustion engine is determined to be equal to or larger than a first reference load and the temperature of the exhaust gas is determined to be expected to be higher than a reference temperature. The circuitry is configured to increase an opening degree of the waste gate valve in the high-load operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Ueno, Masaaki Nagashima, Masaki Suzuki, Hidekazu Hironobu
  • Patent number: 10170927
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a vehicle. The low-voltage system includes a battery, which supplies the first voltage on a low-voltage bus. A system for charging the battery includes an alternator for supplying a charging voltage to the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than said first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter. A control module that carries out energy-management operations at least by the alternator. The second voltage of the DC-DC converter is regulated via a control procedure of a hysteretic type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: Magneti Marelli S.p.A., Sistemi Sospensioni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Nepote, Giordano Greco, Piero Antonio Conti
  • Patent number: 10151246
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Vincent Poumarede, Thomas Klonowski, Fabien Mercier-Calvairac, Camel Serghine
  • Patent number: 10148207
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
  • Patent number: 10148202
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson, Terrence Rotter, Todd Baumann
  • Patent number: 10141874
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Mark Jon Blackwelder, Paul M. Rancuret
  • Patent number: 10135314
    Abstract: Obtaining of a secure reciprocation of piston magnets and enhance the continuity to obtain a continuous rotary power. The rotary power generating apparatus has the first, second piston magnet members the first, second connecting rods the crankshaft, the first, second guide members and the first, second fixed magnet members and it has the first, second demagnetizing member including demagnetizing rotating boards respectively. The first, second piston magnet members and the first, second fixed magnet members are arranged so that the top pole surfaces and fixed pole surfaces, having the same polarity, opposes each other. The demagnetizing rotating boards has demagnetizing magnet parts, having magnetic forces weaker than the magnetic poles of the top pole surfaces and different from the polarity of the top pole surfaces and the non-magnetic force parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Katsushito Yamano
  • Patent number: 10122308
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Turpin
  • Patent number: 10122307
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure herein, a generator is provided herein. The generator includes a rotor that further includes a plurality of slots. The generator also includes a three-phase winding configured to produce a first magnetic field and an excitation winding. The excitation winding is a material filling in the plurality of slots and produces a second magnetic field. In turn, a rotation of the generator induces alternating voltage in the stator three-phase winding and the stator excitation winding excites the magnetic flux in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jacek F. Gieras
  • Patent number: 10108165
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Douglas W. Dorn
  • Patent number: 10087908
    Abstract: An underwater installation-type water-flow power generation system including a weight body fixedly installed on a bottom of a sea area with an ocean current, a power generating device including a diagonal plate frontage portion moored by the weight body through a mooring fixture and provided on a front part of a power generating device body, a variable blade type rotary impeller, and a power generator for obtaining a power generation output by using a rotary force of the variable blade type rotary impeller; and a buoyancy body floating in the ocean current area above the power generating device body and applying a tension to the power generating device body through a pulling tool so that the diagonal plate frontage portion of the power generating device body is facing the ocean current at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN SYSTEM PLANNING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Kumano
  • Patent number: 10082128
    Abstract: A power generator comprises a casing (110) that in use is deployed in an environment in which the casing is subjected to an excitation motion such as wave motion. A series of masses (101, 103a-c) is located within the casing, wherein at least a first mass is coupled to the casing by a first spring (102), each of the masses is coupled to at least one adjacent mass by a respective spring, and wherein the casing and the series of masses bring a motion of the power generator into resonance with the excitation motion. A plurality of electric machines each comprising a stator and a field source are each associated with a corresponding mass such that a relative motion of a mass and associated electric machine generates electrical power. A power takeoff circuit receives generated electrical power from the plurality of electric machines and outputs electrical power from the power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: DDNT Consultants Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Dalibor Frtunik, George Brawley
  • Patent number: 10072581
    Abstract: A multi-body gas turbine engine, especially an aircraft engine, comprising at least one low-pressure rotating body, a high-pressure rotating body, and a starter designed to rotate the high-pressure body in order to start the engine, wherein the starter is coupled to the low-pressure body and the engine comprises a first disengageable coupling device disposed between the low-pressure body and the high-pressure body, for rotatably connecting the high-pressure body to the low-pressure body so as to allow the starting of the engine by means of the starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Bellal Waissi, Sébastien Chalaud, Alain Pierre Garassino