Patents Examined by Nicholas Ponomarenko
  • Power generation amount control apparatus
    Patent number: 8564254
    Abstract: The power generation amount control apparatus includes a battery state determination section, a generator performance determination section, a power-generation-amount increase determination section, an idle state determination section, and a power generation restriction control section. The power generation restriction control section is configured to perform power generation restriction control to restrict a power generation amount of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine when the idle state determination section determines that the vehicle engine is in the idle state, the power-generation-amount increase determination section determines that the power-generation-amount increase demand is not present, and the battery state determination section determines that the battery charged by the vehicle generator is not deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyo Teramoto, Tadatoshi Asada
  • System and method for controlling a wind turbine
    Patent number: 8558401
    Abstract: A system to control a wind turbine, including meteorological instruments for measuring ambient climatic conditions, and generating corresponding meteorological signals, a memory for storing an icing tolerance, a first calculator for calculating an overall icing probability based on the meteorological signals and a controller for stopping the wind turbine when the overall probability of icing is greater than the icing tolerance. Also disclosed is a method for controlling a wind turbine, including the steps of a) measuring ambient climatic conditions and generating corresponding meteorological signals; b) storing in memory an icing tolerance; c) calculating an overall probability of icing based on the meteorological signals; and d) stopping the wind turbine when the overall probability of icing is greater than the icing tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Boralex, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugues Girardin
  • Wind turbine power generation
    Patent number: 8552580
    Abstract: A wind turbine power generation for generating electricity from a fluid may include a compression module housing to compress the fluid, a turbine module housing to convert the compressed fluid into electricity, and a lower pressure reduction module housing and a upper pressure reduction module housing to exhaust the fluid from the turbine module housing. The turbine module housing may include a turbine airflow control to control the amount of fluid flowing through the turbine module housing. The turbine airflow control may include a variable diameter shutter to open and close to control the amount of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Justin Dale Tackett
  • Fluid turbine
    Patent number: 8541900
    Abstract: A fluid turbine includes stator fitted with fluid inlet and outlet, and a rolling rotor installed inside the confusor part of the stator at one end of a shaft, with the other end fixed in a clamp of a clamping mechanism on the stator. The shaft of the rolling rotor is fixed in the clamp of the clamping mechanism non-rotationally with the possibility of angular deflection in all directions. A generator is connected to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering
    Inventors: Miroslav Sedlácek, Václav Beran, Jiri Novák
  • Wind-turbine-generator control system, wind turbine generator, wind farm, and wind-turbine-generator control method
    Patent number: 8536722
    Abstract: In a wind turbine generator, the rotation of the rotor is speeded up by a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor and is transferred to a synchronous generator. In a state in which the wind turbine generator is interconnected to a utility grid, and the synchronous generator reaches a synchronous speed, if no mechanical power is transferred to the synchronous generator, a wind-turbine control system operates the synchronous generator as a synchronous condenser, thus controlling the magnitude of the field current of the synchronous generator. Thus, the wind turbine generator can supply reactive power to the utility grid without adding new equipment, such as a reactive power compensator using a semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Wakasa, Hisanobu Shinoda, Hidekazu Ichinose, Yukio Yamashita, Takatoshi Matsushita
  • Wirelessly powered gaming device
    Patent number: 8531050
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an interactive toy or gaming device for actuating various interactive play effects within a compatible play environment. The gaming device comprises a portable housing having an internal cavity configured to receive one or more batteries or other power sources for powering the device. Optional lighting, laser or sound effects may be provided as well as one or more optionally-powered infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) wireless communications devices. The interactive toy or gaming device may also comprise an optional RFID (radio frequency identification device) transponder that is operable to provide relatively short-range non-battery-powered RF communications with one or more receivers or transceivers provided within a compatible play environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Kingdoms, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Barney, Denise C. Weston
  • Auxiliary energy generator for use with a wind energy system
    Patent number: 8531052
    Abstract: A wind power generator has a frame, an axle extending horizontally and rotatably mounted relative to the frame, a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly of the axle, a plurality of panels respectively connected to the plurality of arms, and an electrical generator positioned adjacent to the arms for producing electrical energy as the arms rotate relative to the frame. The electricity generator includes an annular housing, a coil positioned in the housing so as to define a pathway through an interior of the coil, and a magnet slidably received in the pathway so as to be movable through the coil as the axle rotates. The magnet is magnetically attracted to the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Larry W. Simnacher
  • Pneumatic energy harvesting devices, methods and systems
    Patent number: 8525361
    Abstract: An energy harvesting device may include a pneumatic system inlet configured to receive a pressurized gas; a pneumatic-to-electrical (PN/E) transducer that converts a flow of the pressurized gas into generated electrical energy; and an electrical device coupled to receive the electrical energy of the PN/E transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Kramer, Dragan Nikolic, Eric M. Gawehn, Harry Sim
  • Pedal power generating device
    Patent number: 8525357
    Abstract: A pedal power generating device includes a base having two supporting arms upwardly extending therefrom. The base has a gearbox mounted thereon. A pedal assembly is mounted between the two supporting arms. The pedal assembly has a pedal, a supporter extending from the pedal, a connecting rod assembled with the supporter and connected to the gearbox, and a twist spring mounted between the pedal and the two supporting arms. A transmitting assembly is mounted in the gearbox. The transmitting assembly includes a driver, a first gear train engaged with the driver, a second gear train engaged with the first gear train, and a steering gear set simultaneously engaging with the first gear train and the second gear train. A generator is mounted adjacent to the gearbox, and the generator has a rotor engaged with the second gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventors: Hsin-Jen Li, Shin-Sheng Lu
  • Power supply device
    Patent number: 8525490
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a magneto generator with a rotor having a magnet; a torque supplying device supplying torque to the rotor; a rectifier circuit supplying electric power to a electrical load device by rectifying an output of the magneto generator; a short circuit electrically shorting an output end of the magneto generator; a voltage detection circuit detecting a terminal voltage of the electrical load device; and a control circuit controlling a voltage of the electrical load device to be a first set value by controlling the short circuit to switch ON (short operating mode) and OFF (rectification operating mode) according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit and allowing the short circuit to operate while making a switching between the two operating modes according to a operating state relating to a rotation of the rotor of the magneto generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Itoi, Masayoshi Maeda, Nobuhiro Kihara, Hiroshi Okuda, Fumito Uemura
  • Tool having integrated electricity generator with external stator and power conditioner
    Patent number: 8519558
    Abstract: A tool includes a nonmagnetic tool housing, a cylindrical rotor inside the tool housing and rotatable in response to a flow of pressurized fluid through the tool housing and magnets mounted in the rotor. A stator is positioned on the exterior of the tool housing, and is dimensioned to cooperate with the magnets to, upon rotation of the rotor, generate electrical current for supply to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Jon J. Leininger
  • Electrical drive machine having a stator and a rotor
    Patent number: 8513827
    Abstract: An electric drive machine having a stator and a rotor, the rotor carrying a rotor winding, in slots, which is able to be supplied with electric current by a power supply system made up of a commutator and sliding contacts, the sliding contacts pressing on the surface of the commutator having at least two pairs each made up of one positive sliding contact and one negative sliding contact, and in the case of at least one first pair of a positive sliding contact and a negative sliding contact, the positive sliding contact and the negative sliding contact being opposed at an angle ?, which deviates from 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Faber, Michael Bayer, Sven Hartmann, Dirk Buehler
  • Windmill generator system
    Patent number: 8508065
    Abstract: A windmill generator system featuring a base with a generator, a shaft extending upwardly from the base, and a rotor housing rotatably attached atop the shaft. The shaft is operatively connected to the generator via a clutch system. The rotor housing is adapted to spin in a first direction and a second direction about the shaft, wherein rotation of the rotor housing generates energy for the generator. At least two flanges extend outwardly from the rotor housing. A wing is disposed on each flange. The wings extend outwardly a distance away from the rotor housing to harness wind. Each wing comprises a series of adjustable louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Chu B. Lee
  • Energy systems, energy devices, energy utilization methods, and energy transfer methods
    Patent number: 8508058
    Abstract: Energy systems, energy devices, energy utilization methods, and energy transfer methods are described. In one arrangement, energy utilization methods include providing first energy from a power grid to an induction generator at a first moment in time; using the induction generator and the first energy from the power grid, charging an energy storage device; using second energy from the energy storage device, powering a motor causing the induction generator to generate third energy during a second moment in time; and providing the third energy to the power grid. Other arrangements are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Demand Energy Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Robert Hamilton
  • Electricity production from static weight
    Patent number: 8497589
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric energy generation system based on the use of static weight. The static weight can be placed, pushed, or rolled onto a platform or shelf, controlled in its vertical motion downward, and connected to an electric generator, which transforms the vertical linear motion to electricity. A gearing system, hydraulic transmission, fluid coupling, or torque convertor to convert linear to rotational motion is employed as necessary, thereby turning the generator. A return means, of various forms, allows the platform or shelf to return to original position, and provides an opportunity to make use of vertical motion once again for energy production. A flywheel may be used to provide more sustained and smoother power over a longer period, and other amplification means may be used to increase duration or amount of power, as well as conversion means to provide electricity in usable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventor: John Richard Geletka
  • Apparatus for generating power from a turbine engine
    Patent number: 8492920
    Abstract: An electrical architecture for an aircraft providing power for the aircraft by generating power from a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool of a turbine engine. The spools can be used to drive corresponding generators; the power from which can be used to supply the various loads of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Hao Huang, Xiaochuan Jia, David Dimitri Karipides
  • Rotary magnus energy harvester
    Patent number: 8492921
    Abstract: An energy harvester capable of providing motion from fluid flow, which comprises at least one Magnus cylinder driven to rotate by the movement of the fluid past a fin device. This causes the Magnus cylinder to rotate, and further interactions between the rotating Magnus cylinder and the moving fluid generate a Magnus lifting force. A channel or system may be also provided to direct the fluid flow to the Magnus cylinder. This rotating Magnus cylinder configuration is integrated into a mechanical device that is designed to transfer the Magnus lifting forces into a rotary mechanical motion to drive an electric generator. The device can be utilized in either air or hydraulic environments. A modification of the energy harvester can also be configured to utilize the generated electricity to produce hydrogen for use in fuel cells, or for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventors: Joel S Douglas, Matthew French, Paul Richard Johnson, Amanda E Ziegler
  • Power generation systems
    Patent number: 8492913
    Abstract: A power generation system is provided that includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational mechanical energy. A generator is configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy and generate electrical power in response to the rotational mechanical energy. A fluid medium is provided to the internal combustion engine and to the generator for removing thermal energy from the internal combustion engine and from the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: PowerSys, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Koeneman, Edward Woods
  • Floating wind turbine with turbine anchor
    Patent number: 8487471
    Abstract: The wind turbine 20 includes a wind driven turbine wheel 22 rotatable about a central axis 29 that has sail wings 30 that catch the wind and rotate the turbine wheel 22. An anchor 58 has its anchor line 56 attached to the turbine wheel at its axis of rotation 29 to prevent tilting the wind turbine in response to high wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald L. Barber
  • Blade pitch control in a wind turbine installation
    Patent number: 8487464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade pitch controller for a floating wind turbine structure, wherein the floating wind turbine structure may include a support structure supporting a rotor having a number of blades. The controller may include standard blade pitch control means and active damping means. The standard blade pitch control means is arranged to control a blade pitch using a transfer function between a rotor speed error and the blade pitch. The active damping means is arranged to further control the blade pitch on the basis of a speed of a point on the wind turbine structure by converting the speed of a point on the wind turbine structure into a rotor speed error and using the same transfer function that is used in the standard blade pitch control means to convert the rotor speed error into a correction to the blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hywind AS
    Inventors: Bjorn Skaare, Finn Gunnar Nielsen