Patents Examined by Pedro J. Cuevas
  • Patent number: 11661920
    Abstract: A wind turbine control unit includes an upsampling module that receives a first control signal that includes a current control sample value and a predicted control trajectory. The upsampling module also calculates a second control signal in dependence on the current control sample value and the predicted control trajectory. The second control signal has a higher frequency than the first control signal. The upsampling module further outputs the second control signal for controlling an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Gybel Hovgaard, Keld Hammerum, Kasper Zinck
  • Patent number: 11664709
    Abstract: A holding apparatus for a slip ring unit includes at least two slots configured for receiving slip ring brushes respectively, with the at least two slots being arranged in spaced-apart relationship. A cooling duct is arranged between the at least two slots for cooling a side surface of the slip ring brushes. The cooling duct is configured as a third slot between the at least two slots, with the at least two slots and the cooling duct being of essentially identical shape and dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Flender GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Binder, Robert Gruber, Oliver Memminger
  • Patent number: 11655795
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic electrification system that generates electricity from water moving from a high side to a low side and around a structure that divides the low side from the high side generally includes a water transport system that directs the water from the high side presenting a hydraulic head, over the structure, and to the low side. The system includes a power extraction system having a wheel that receives the water from said water transport system and a mounting system having a high side anchor that connects near an intake to the water transport system at the high side and having a low side anchor that connects to the power extraction system at the low side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Freda, Bradford G. Knight
  • Patent number: 11641144
    Abstract: A method of removing heat from an electrical machine located in a gas turbine engine at least partially inward of a core airflow path in a radial direction, the electrical machine including an outer generator stator and an inner generator rotor is provided. The method includes directing cooling airflow radially through an airflow passageway to an enclosure at least partially defined by a thermal shield at least partially around the electrical machine. The cooling airflow is directed radially inward past the outer generator stator and toward the inner generator rotor using a cooling manifold thereby removing heat from the generator rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: General Electric Company, General Electric Company Polska sp. z o.o., General Electric Deutschland Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Adam Tomasz Paziński, Tomasz Jan Bulsiewicz, Mohamed Osama, Christopher Delametter
  • Patent number: 11635053
    Abstract: A starter-generator module for a vehicle includes a bulkhead wall, a module housing fixed to the bulkhead wall, an e-motor stator fixed to the module housing, an e-motor rotor disposed radially inside of the e-motor stator, and a power electronics unit fixed to the module housing. The module housing has a first opening and the power electronics unit covers the first opening. The e-motor rotor has a rotor carrier arranged for fixing to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. In an example embodiment, the rotor carrier includes holes arranged for receiving respective fasteners for fixing the rotor carrier to an engine crankshaft, and a bolt circle diameter of the holes is less than an inside diameter of the first opening. In an example embodiment, the rotor carrier is fixed to a crankshaft by a bolt, and the first opening is arranged for receiving a tool to secure the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthew Payne, Markus Steinberger
  • Patent number: 11624346
    Abstract: An active resonance C-type buoyant flap wave energy converter includes a rigid frame, a flap, a mass center adjustment assembly and a power generation assembly. The rigid frame is connected to a marine facility, and includes a main body and a support shaft provided at a bottom thereof. The flap is swingingly arranged on the support shaft. The flap is located under water surface, and swings back and forth around the support shaft under an action of a wave. The mass center adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a mass center of the flap to make a natural period of the flap same as a wave period, so as to achieve a resonance between the flap and the wave. The power generation assembly is arranged on the support shaft and is located in the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: WUHAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yuanqi Cai, Yinquan Huo, Jianhui Liu, Xiangyu Shi, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 11624348
    Abstract: A pitch energy module comprising one or more ultracapacitors storing electrical energy for a wind turbine emergency pitch energy event. The pitch energy module replaces at least one battery within a battery housing of a wind turbine and interfaces with the existing battery wiring harness to communicate with a control system of the wind turbine. The pitch energy module is installed without further modification to the battery housing or the battery wiring harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeremy Winston Wilks, John Raymond Curran, Brian Christopher Gumino
  • Patent number: 11619140
    Abstract: A first turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the first turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. A second turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the second turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. The second turboexpander generator is downstream of and receives a flow output from the first turboexpander generator. The first turboexpander generator and the second turboexpander generator each include the following features. An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. An annulus defined by the electric rotor and the electric stator is configured to receive a process fluid flow. Magnetic bearings carry the rotor within the stator. A housing encloses the rotor and stator. The housing is hermetically sealed between an inlet and an outlet of each turboexpander generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sapphire Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Earl, Freddie Sarhan, Jeremy Liu
  • Patent number: 11614065
    Abstract: A runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to reduce fish mortality. The runner includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. Each blade includes a root connected to the hub and a tip opposite the root. Each blade further includes a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, and a ratio of a thickness of the leading edge to a diameter of the runner can range from about 0.06 to about 0.35. Further, each blade has a leading edge that is curved relative to a radial axis of the runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Natel Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham D. Schneider, Sterling Marina Watson
  • Patent number: 11614039
    Abstract: A control circuit for a dual fuel generator includes a primary fuel valve to control the supply of a primary fuel, a secondary fuel valve to control the supply of a secondary fuel, a primary fuel pressure switch to detect the primary fuel, a secondary fuel pressure switch to detect the secondary fuel, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a primary signal for availability of the primary fuel from the primary fuel pressure switch and a secondary signal for availability of the secondary fuel from the secondary and operate the primary fuel valve and the secondary fuel valve in response to the primary signal and the secondary signal. When the secondary fuel valve is open so that the secondary fuel is provided to the dual fuel generator, the control circuit is configured to ground the primary signal by connecting the primary fuel pressure switch to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Harrison Chiu, Peter Thompson, Seth Gudmundson, Zachary Meulemans
  • Patent number: 11611263
    Abstract: An electric power generation system receives a gas flow at a heater, heats the gas flow at the heater with a heated fluid from a waste heat process, and directs the heated gas flow to a turbine wheel of an electric generator. The heated gas flow drives rotation of the turbine wheel, and in response to rotating the turbine wheel, electrical current is generated by the electric generator. Generated electrical current is then directed to power electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sapphire Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Freddie Sarhan, Jeffrey Earl, Jeremy Liu
  • Patent number: 11611256
    Abstract: Fault-tolerant electric drive systems including a machine having a rotor and a stator having coils arranged in pairs. Each coil in each pair separated by 180 degrees, a first phase (?A) having one of the coil pairs and a phase drive circuit connected therewith, a second phase (?B) having a second one of the coil pairs and a second phase drive circuit connected therewith, a third phase (?C) having a third one of the coil pairs and a third phase drive circuit connected therewith, and a fourth phase having a fourth one of the coil pairs and a fourth phase drive circuit connected therewith. Further included is a controller connected with the first, second, third and fourth phase drive circuits to control operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Jeffrey Hobday
  • Patent number: 11585313
    Abstract: A system that produces electricity offshore through a fixed installation, including a minimum of; one turbine, one generator, one compressor set, one high voltage subsea cable, and one control center; the generator is a gas driven generator that produces enough power to operate the electric motors, an onshore control center that operate and monitor the system, and all electricity generated through the water turbines and generators are transported to the onshore electricity grid through a high voltage subsea cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Eiric Skaaren
  • Patent number: 11572836
    Abstract: Systems and methods for gas turbine or jet engines may include, among other things, one or more electric heating elements located within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine, a combustion chamber of a jet engine, or an afterburner of a jet engine. A combustion chamber and/or an afterburner may be configured to generate heated gas by using the one or more electric heating elements to heat gases within the combustion chamber and/or afterburner. A combustion chamber and/or an afterburner may be configured to generate an exhaust output based on the heated gas. The exhaust output may drive a turbine which generates electricity or mechanical energy. Thrust from the exhaust output from a jet engine may propel a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Bob Burkett
  • Patent number: 11566613
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an compressed air-based autonomous power generation system for a standalone industrial robot jig comprises an air compressor configured to supply compressed air, a compressed air-based power generator detachably connected with the air compressor to produce power and deliver the compressed air, an industrial robot jig connected with the compressed air-based power generator to receive the compressed air and clamp a product, a battery connected with the compressed air-based power generator to receive, and be charged with, the power, and to supply the power to the industrial robot jig, and an auxiliary air tank connected with the compressed air-based power generator to store the compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventor: Jin Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11566598
    Abstract: A radiating component of the wind turbine is modelled as a plurality of elements, wherein each element represents a physical portion of the radiating component and at least a portion of each of the elements are acoustically coupled to one or more of the other elements. A simulation of a vibrational source located within the wind turbine is applied at an interface of the modelled radiating component. A transfer function is used to determine the transmission of vibrations from an interface with the vibrational source to the elements. Tonal noise radiated from the elements to an environment external to the wind turbine is determined based upon the transmission of vibrations from the interface through the elements. The design of the radiating component, or of a component between the radiating component and the vibrational source, is modified to reduce the tonal noise radiated from the radiating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Mranal Gupta, Alf Søe-Knudsen
  • Patent number: 11563388
    Abstract: Described herein are devices incorporating Casimir cavities, which modify the quantum vacuum mode distribution within the cavities. The Casimir cavities can drive charge carriers from or to an electronic device disposed adjacent to or contiguous with the Casimir cavity by modifying the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on one side of the electronic device to be different from the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on the other side of the electronic device. The electronic device can exhibit a structure that permits transport or capture of hot carriers in very short time intervals, such as in 1 picosecond or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventor: Garret Moddel
  • Patent number: 11560878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a damper unit for damping oscillations of a tower structure when secured thereto, the damper unit comprising a damper unit structure adapted for attachment to the tower structure, a pendulum structure, a suspension arrangement for suspending the pendulum structure from the damper unit structure such that the pendulum structure is allowed to displace from a neutral position for the pendulum structure, the suspension arrangement comprising one or more wires for suspending the pendulum structure, a sensor adapted for measuring oscillations of the tower structure, and tuning means configured for adjusting the natural frequency of the suspended pendulum structure in response to measured oscillations of the tower structure. The present invention further relates to an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Søren Bøgelund Madsen, Jes Grøn Andersen
  • Patent number: 11560873
    Abstract: Implementations of wind energy devices may include a frame coupled to each of a first rotor wheel, a second rotor wheel, a third rotor wheel, and a fourth rotor wheel. Implementations of wind energy devices may also include a first cable configured to rotate about the first rotor wheel and the second rotor wheel and a second cable configured to rotate about the third rotor wheel and the fourth rotor wheel. Implementations of wind energy devices may also include a plurality of airfoils coupled between the first cable and the second cable. Implementations of wind energy devices may include a first generator and a second generator. Implementations of wind energy devices may include a controller coupled to the first generator and the second generator. The controller may be configured to control a speed of rotation of the plurality of airfoils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventor: Brent Gregory
  • Patent number: 11560233
    Abstract: An aircraft power plant has: an electric motor; a compressor; a combustion engine; an output shaft drivingly engageable to a thrust generator for propelling an aircraft equipped with the aircraft power plant; and a transmission including a gearbox having a first input drivingly engaged by the electric motor, a first output drivingly engaging the compressor, a second input drivingly engageable by the combustion engine, and a second output drivingly engageable to the output shaft, wherein the transmission has: a propulsion configuration in which the output shaft and the compressor are drivingly engaged to the electric motor and to the combustion engine via the gearbox, and an auxiliary power unit configuration in which the combustion engine and the output shaft are at rest while the electric motor drivingly engages the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Dubreuil, Richard Ullyott