Patents Examined by Mark A Laurenzi
  • Patent number: 11629686
    Abstract: A system for generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir for a first liquid fluid and a second storage reservoir for a second higher density fluid located at a lower elevation. Power is generated using a pump, a generator, and fluid displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: INNOVATOR ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Ethan Novek
  • Patent number: 11624364
    Abstract: An electric compressor includes a housing, a drive shaft, a motor, a fixed scroll, a movable scroll, and a fixed block. The fixed block is fixed to the housing and disposed between the motor and the movable scroll. The motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor has an introduction passage that is formed through the rotor in an axial direction of the drive shaft. The drive shaft includes a balance weight that is disposed between the fixed block and the motor. The balance weight extends to a position where the balance weight covers at least a part of the introduction passage in a radial direction of the drive shaft in a view in the axial direction of the drive shaft. The balance weight is located away from the rotor by a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yuya Hattori, Takuro Yamashita, Takumi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11619230
    Abstract: A vane rotary compressor includes a roller rotatably supported in a cylinder and including a plurality of vane slots formed along a circumferential direction with back pressure chambers formed at one end of each of the vane slots. A plurality of vanes are slidably supported in the vane slots protruding toward an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder. A compression space formed by the vanes between the roller and the cylinder includes an inlet port and an outlet port formed at both sides of a contact point between the roller and the cylinder. A vane positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port is configured such that a front gap between a front surface of the vane and the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder is smaller than a rear gap between a rear surface of the vane and an inner surface of the back pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joonhong Park, Kiyoul Noh, Seokhwan Moon
  • Patent number: 11619146
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger can be fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger such that cooling fluid, after being heated in the second heat exchanger, passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Charles Jansen, Jeffrey Wen-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11614066
    Abstract: A system for storing and generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir configured to store a first fluid, a second storage reservoir located at a lower elevation than the first storage reservoir and configured to store a second fluid wherein said second fluid has a higher density than the first fluid, and a pump. In some embodiments a generator may be employed. The pump and the first and the second reservoir are operatively connected such that power is stored by displacing the second fluid in the second storage reservoir by pumping the first fluid from the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir and such that power is generated by allowing the pumped first fluid in the second storage reservoir to exit the second reservoir. The first fluid is generally a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: INNOVATOR ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Ethan Novek
  • Patent number: 11608830
    Abstract: A scroll compressor including a center housing; a front housing fastened to the center housing and forming a suction chamber; a rear housing fastened to the center housing and forming a compression mechanism accommodation space. Fixed scroll is in the compression mechanism accommodation space. An orbiting scroll interposes between the center housing and the fixed scroll forming a compression chamber together with the fixed scroll. Fixed scroll may include a fixed scroll end plate and a fixed scroll side plate protruded from outer circumferential portion of fixed scroll end plate, fastened to the center housing, and forming orbiting space of orbiting scroll. Outer circumferential portion of the center housing may be formed with an inflow hole for communicating with the suction chamber. Distal end surface of the fixed scroll side plate is formed with a suction port for guiding the refrigerant of the inflow hole to the compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Kyung Jae Lee, Jeong Ki Seo
  • Patent number: 11603827
    Abstract: Water-responsive actuators and methods for creating water responsive actuators are disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a first layer, for example a plastic tape, and a second layer, for example bacterial spores and cured adhesive. The second layer can be created in a pattern. The pattern can include joints, which can contract when exposed to dry air and can thereby bend the actuator, and can expand when exposed to humid air and thereby return the actuator its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Ozgur Sahin, Onur Cakmak, Xi Chen
  • Patent number: 11598319
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator using a photo-responsive shape-changing construct, the actuator comprising: a 1-1 polymer film and a 1-2 polymer film, configured to undergo a bending deformation in response to a light irradiation; a first restricting member provided between the 1-1 polymer film and the 1-2 polymer film so as to allow the 1-1 polymer film and the 1-2 polymer film to be connected to each other; and a rotation member configured to rotate as the rotation member, at least in part, is pushed by an end of the 1-1 polymer film along with the bending deformation of the 1-1 polymer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Maeng Hyo Cho, Hee Jun Sung, Hong Seok Kim, Hyun Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11592022
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a hermetic container, a fixed scroll, a swing scroll, a frame, an electric motor, and a shaft. A first groove and a second groove are provided outside a fixed wrap in a radial direction at an end plate surface of the fixed scroll. An oil supply hole for guiding lubricant oil from a through-hole opens at an end plate surface of the swing scroll. A single opening of the oil supply hole alternately communicates with the first groove and the second groove along with swing of the swing scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI-JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING, INC.
    Inventors: Ryota Iijima, Kazuyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11592023
    Abstract: A compressor installation structure for a vehicle has: a first compressor that is installed in a vehicle and that is driven by a first displacement body repeating a first movement at a predetermined cycle; and a second compressor that is installed in the vehicle and that is driven by a second displacement body repeating a second movement at the predetermined cycle, wherein, in a state in which the first compressor and the second compressor are installed in the vehicle, a first displacement direction of a first centroid of the first displacement body at a time at which the first displacement body performs the first movement is an opposite direction from a second displacement direction of a second centroid of the second displacement body at a time at which the second displacement body performs the second movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hara, Jumpei Watanabe, Norimasa Koreishi
  • Patent number: 11578622
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating to use of external air for inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, are disclosed. A method may involve, in a closed cycle system operating in a power generation mode, circulating a working fluid may through a closed cycle fluid path. The closed cycle fluid path may include a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg. The method may further involve in response to a demand for increased power generation, compressing and dehumidifying environmental air. And the method may involve injecting the compressed and dehumidified environmental air into the low pressure leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Raj Apte, Philippe Larochelle
  • Patent number: 11578721
    Abstract: An oil-free scroll air compressor, includes two fixed scrolls and a movable scroll with scroll wraps on both sides. The fixed scrolls each are provided on an end surface thereof with scroll wraps. The movable scroll with scroll wraps on both sides is provided on both end surfaces thereof with scroll wraps. The two fixed scrolls and the movable scroll with scroll wraps on both sides together form two gas compression channels located on two sides. The scroll warps on a same end surface are configured as a double-parallel-groove structure, which further divides the gas compression channel on the same side into two gas compression channels, thereby increasing displacement of the scroll air compressor. After a gas is introduced through a gas inlet on a circumferential surface of the fixed scroll, the gas is compressed in multiple compression channels and then discharged from a center of the scroll air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Zhejiang University
    Inventors: Shusheng Xiong, Xinchen Weng, Renpu Jiang, Jianbing Shu, Huaxing Hong
  • Patent number: 11560881
    Abstract: Actuator assemblies comprising a core made up of a shape memory alloy wire and a coating containing a distribution of Phase Changing Material (PCM) particles with a given weight ratio between said particles and said shape memory alloy wire, and active cloths incorporating one or more of said actuator assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Saes Getters S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Citro, Davide Frigerio
  • Patent number: 11506057
    Abstract: A tesla-type turbine for converting the enthalpy of a gas volume flow into mechanical energy, a method for operating the Tesla-type turbine, and an apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, a method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and a method for converting thermal energy into electrical energy. The Tesla-type turbine has at least one disc which is positioned on an axis of rotation and is set into rotation by a gas volume flow flowing substantially tangentially, so that mechanical energy can be collected at a shaft coupled to the disc. A disc body that forms the disc has at least one cavity in which, for the purpose of cooling the disc body, a cooling medium, in particular a cooling liquid, is received or can be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Udo Hellwig
  • Patent number: 11499435
    Abstract: A stator vane includes a blade body, an outer shroud, and an impingement plate. The outer shroud includes a recess. The impingement plate forms a cavity inside the recess. A communication hole is provided in the impingement plate and the outer shroud. In the impingement plate, a plurality of through holes through which an outer space and a cavity communicate with each other are formed. A second region in which an opening ratio is large and a first region in which an opening ratio is small exist in a surface of the impingement plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Atsumi, Hidemichi Koyabu
  • Patent number: 11499553
    Abstract: The scroll compressor comprises a fixed scroll having a fixed end plate and a fixed spiral wrap extending from the fixed end plate; an orbiting scroll (9) having an orbiting end plate and an orbiting spiral wrap extending from the orbiting end plate, the fixed spiral wrap and the orbiting spiral wrap meshing with each other to form compression chambers; a vertical drive shaft (19) having a crankpin (21) at an upper end portion of the vertical drive shaft (19), the crankpin (21) including an outer circumferential surface (23) cooperating with an orbiting scroll bearing (24). The crankpin (21) includes a recess (25) formed in an axial end face (26) of the crankpin (21), the recess (25) and an upper portion (27) of the outer circumferential surface (23) defining therebetween a circumferential wall (28) extending along at least a part of the circumference of the crankpin (21), the circumferential wall (28) being deformable in a radial direction during operation of the scroll compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventors: Remi Bou Dargham, Arnaud Daussin, Dominique Gross
  • Patent number: 11499554
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a compressor with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a scroll set. The scroll set includes a fixed scroll member and an orbiting scroll member. The fixed scroll member includes a first scroll wrap extending vertically from a base of the fixed scroll wrap. The first scroll wrap has an approximately spiral shape with at least 3.5 rotations from the center to the end of the spiral. The orbiting scroll member includes a second scroll wrap extending vertically from a base of the orbiting scroll wrap. The second scroll wrap has an approximately spiral shape with at least 3.5 rotations from the center to the end of the spiral. The orbiting scroll moves in an elliptical pattern such that fluid entering the inlet port of the compressor is compressed from a first volume to a second volume via movement of the orbiting scroll member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Olsen
  • Patent number: 11493040
    Abstract: A damping apparatus for an exhaust valve in a compressor, an exhaust valve assembly having the damping apparatus, and a compressor using the exhaust valve assembly. The damping apparatus comprises a fixed body; the fixed body comprises an exhaust hole comprises an exhaust hole through which a compression cavity and an exhaust cavity are in fluid communication with each other; the exhaust hole comprises an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate cavity provided between the inlet and the outlet and allowing the inlet and the outlet to be in fluid communication with each other; the intermediate cavity is configured to enable the backflow of the gas from the exhaust cavity to form a vortex in the intermediate cavity. The damping apparatus has advantages of reducing the force and frequency of impacts on an exhaust valve plate, and prolonging the service life of the valve plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongwei Zou, Xuan Liu
  • Patent number: 11486347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining energy from the Earth's gravitational force, in particular for producing a rotational movement, which method is designed in such a way that working bodies are introduced into a liquid column or into communicating liquid columns by introducing devices, the action of which is oriented toward one another, counter to the water pressure, in such a way that the force/energy needed for the introduction into the (one) liquid column is at least partly compensated by a force/energy resulting from the same or other liquid column. A device for producing rotational movement uses the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Zeki Akbayir
  • Patent number: 11480175
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a main body, a cover to divide the main body into a low pressure section and a high pressure section, a fixed scroll including a first discharge port, an orbiting scroll to rotate with respect to the fixed scroll and to form a compression chamber together with the fixed scroll, a discharge guide disposed between the fixed scroll and the cover and including a second discharge port connected to the first discharge port, and a back pressure actuator configured to form a back pressure chamber together with the discharge guide and to move in a direction toward the cover with respect to the discharge guide to selectively connect the second discharge port with the high pressure section. The fixed scroll includes a bypass flow path connecting the compression chamber and the second discharge port and a bypass valve to open or close the bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junghoon Park, Sunghea Cho, Jongcheun Seo, Namkyu Cho, Dohyun Kim, Junguk Jun