Patents Examined by Thomas K Quigley
  • Patent number: 10941750
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for operating a hydraulic turbine. A speed adjustment quantity for the hydraulic turbine and a corresponding change in flow quantity are obtained. A rotation speed of the hydraulic turbine is adjusted based on the speed adjustment quantity. A change ratio of the flow quantity with regard to the speed adjustment quantity is determined based on the speed adjustment quantity and the corresponding change in flow quantity. An adjustment manner in which the rotation speed is further adjusted is determined based on the determined based on the determined change ratio of flow quantity. An adjustment manner in which the rotation speed is further adjusted is determined based on the determined change ratio of flow quantity. It enables the hydraulic turbine to track a maximum efficiency operation point under a given power order and water head in real time at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Xiaobo Yang, Chunming Yuan, Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 10934949
    Abstract: A combined engine system is disclosed which may help to meet electrical power demand of a common load that can vary in an unpredictable manner. The system comprises at least one primary engine and one or more secondary engines. An after-treatment system is connected to the engines to receive exhaust flow from each of the engines. A controller is configured to operate the system in a first operating mode when only the primary engine is running and a second operating mode when the secondary engines are run together with the primary engine. Exhaust flows from each of the engines are passed through the after-treatment system which allows the after-treatment system to be heated by the exhaust flow of the primary engine before receiving exhaust flows from the secondary engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John Rutledge
  • Patent number: 10927814
    Abstract: A method is provided of controlling a wind turbine that is operating according to a control signal causing the wind turbine to be over-rated above the wind turbine's rated power. The method comprises: obtaining one or more signals, or values of variables, that indicate the fatigue lifetime of one or more of the wind turbine's components from turbine sensors; applying a lifetime usage estimator algorithm to the signals or values to determine measures of the fatigue life consumed by each of the turbine components; calculating, for each of the turbine components, a rate of consumption of fatigue life based on the measures of the fatigue life consumed by each of the turbine components; and controlling the turbine to reduce the amount of power by which the wind turbine is over-rated based on the rate of consumption of fatigue life for at least one of the turbine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Chris Spruce
  • Patent number: 10920739
    Abstract: A wave-power system configured to produce electric power is provided. The wave-power system may comprise a floating body structure, a set of blades attached to the floating body structure, a weight assembly, a bidirectional to unidirectional shaft assembly and/or a power unit. The weight assembly may comprise a plurality of weights which may rotate around a first axis of rotation as a result of floating movements of the floating body structure. Rotation of the plurality of weights may cause an input shaft of the bidirectional to unidirectional shaft assembly to rotate. An output shaft of the bidirectional to unidirectional shaft assembly may rotate in a first direction, regardless of a direction of rotation of the input shaft. Rotation of the output shaft causes the power unit to produce the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventor: Moosa Nematollahi Saein
  • Patent number: 10910973
    Abstract: A floating electrical power generator having a three-dimensional (3D) flow passageway configured for increasing the water flow on the paddle wheel to increase the power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Bruno Bergman
  • Patent number: 10907612
    Abstract: A wind turbine control system comprising at least one control module configured to output a control signal for a control mechanism of a wind turbine, and a gain calculator for calculating a gain parameter associated with the control module, wherein the gain parameter is calculated based on a computerized real-time blade model using a determined wind turbine operating point as an input. The blade model may be a blade element momentum model. In another aspect, the invention may be expressed as a method of controlling a control mechanism of a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jacob Deleuran Grunnet, Thomas Krüger, Ali Zaib, Jesper Sandberg Thomsen
  • Patent number: 10903720
    Abstract: A starter generator located within a sump region of a turbofan engine and coupled to an adapter shaft. The adapter shaft rotationally coupled to the high pressure shaft, forward of a high pressure shaft bearing, and secured by a spanner nut. The engine makes use of two pluralities of electrical conductors, the first extends through an electrical conduit defined by a forward strut extending from the sump region to the outward casing, the second extends axially away from the electric starter. Each of the first plurality of electrical conductors makes reversible contact with a respective one of the second plurality of electrical conductors via an elbow/pin connector, producing a tight turn in area of limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
  • Patent number: 10903707
    Abstract: A synchronous reluctance machine includes a stator and a rotor spaced apart from the stator by an air gap. The rotor is rotatably mounted about an axis and has laminations arranged axially behind one another. Each lamination has an anisotropic magnetic structure formed by flux blocking sections and flux conducting sections, wherein the flux blocking sections and the flux conducting sections form poles of the rotor. The flux blocking sections form axial channels, wherein in at least some flux blocking sections permanent magnets are provided that do not completely occupy the respective flux blocking section and thus allow axial airflow in all flux blocking sections. The laminated core of the rotor is axially subdivided into at least two component laminated cores, with radial cooling gaps formed between the poles in the region of the q axis as viewed in circumferential direction and between the component laminated cores as viewed axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Roland Zeichfüssl
  • Patent number: 10895243
    Abstract: A condition monitoring apparatus which monitors a condition of equipment including a rotor includes a storage and a calculator. The storage stores a plurality of results obtained from a plurality of divided data strings, respectively, resulting from division of a data string obtained by sampling at a regular time interval of signals from sensors provided in the equipment. The calculator estimates a plurality of rotation speeds corresponding to the plurality of divided data strings from the plurality of results accumulated in the storage, respectively, corrects the plurality of divided data strings based on the plurality of rotation speeds, respectively, and generates a corrected data string by combining the plurality of corrected divided data strings. A condition monitoring apparatus capable of accurately analyzing data obtained from the sensors while increase in cost is suppressed and influence by variation in rotation is lessened is thus provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10892700
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electric generator and motor transmission system that is capable of operating with high energy, wide operating range and extremely variable torque and RPM conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, the disclosed system is operable to: dynamically change the output “size” of the motor/generator by modularly engaging and disengaging rotor/stator sets as power demands increase or decrease; activate one stator or another within the rotor/stator sets as torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements change; and/or change from parallel to series winding configurations or the reverse through sets of 2, 4, 6 or more parallel, three-phase, non-twisted coil windings with switchable separated center tap to efficiently meet torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Harley C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10879828
    Abstract: A motor/generator/transmission system includes: an axle; a stator ring having a plurality of stator coils disposed around the periphery of the stator ring, wherein each phase of the plurality of stator coils includes a respective set of multiple parallel non-twisted wires separated at the center tap with electronic switches for connecting the parallel non-twisted wires of each phase of the stator coils all in series, all in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel; a rotor support structure coupled to the axle; a first rotor ring and a second rotor ring each having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the axle, at least one of the first rotor ring or the second rotor ring being slidably coupled to the rotor support structure and configured to translate along the rotor support structure in a first axial direction or in a second axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: Harley C. McDonald, James L. Bailey, Matthew C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10859062
    Abstract: A vertical windmill system which provides a vertical axis windmill designed to rotate vertically as opposed to horizontally in order to optimize power-generation. The windmill utilizes kinetic wind energy to its maximum extent in order to create sustainable energy. It ensures the generator is not slowed down as wind speed is reduced so the efficiency of harvesting wind energy is increased. As designed it offers a simplified means for improving the efficiency of windmills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: Trilok Vyas
  • Patent number: 10855216
    Abstract: An aircraft power generation unit to generate power provided to a load includes a permanent magnet generator (PMG) that includes first, second, third and fourth sets of windings, each of the winding sets including three windings and a control coil and a rectifier section that includes first through third six pulse rectifiers, a DC to DC to converter and a common local output bus. The unit also includes an output bus configured to be connected to the load and including a positive output bus rail and a negative output bus rail, wherein the negative output bus rail is connected to the negative output of the DC to DC converter and a controller that receives an input signal from at least one of the output sets and selectively couples the DC to DC converter and one or more of the first, second and third six-pulse rectifiers to the output bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 10833619
    Abstract: A motor/generator/transmission system includes: an axle; a stator ring having a plurality of stator coils disposed around the periphery of the stator ring, wherein each phase of the plurality of stator coils includes a respective set of multiple parallel non-twisted wires separated at the center tap with electronic switches for connecting the parallel non-twisted wires of each phase of the stator coils all in series, all in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel; a rotor support structure coupled to the axle; a first rotor ring and a second rotor ring each having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the axle, at least one of the first rotor ring or the second rotor ring being slidably coupled to the rotor support structure and configured to translate along the rotor support structure in a first axial direction or in a second axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: Harley C. McDonald, James L. Bailey, Matthew C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10833618
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electric generator and motor transmission system that is capable of operating with high energy, wide operating range and extremely variable torque and RPM conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, the disclosed system is operable to: dynamically change the output “size” of the motor/generator by modularly engaging and disengaging rotor/stator sets as power demands increase or decrease; activate one stator or another within the rotor/stator sets as torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements change; and/or change from parallel to series winding configurations or the reverse through sets of 2, 4, 6 or more parallel, three-phase, non-twisted coil windings with switchable separated center tap to efficiently meet torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Harley C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10826419
    Abstract: A brake device for an AC generator, whose speed can be flexibly controlled, and can function properly even when functions of the control unit are lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaji Haneda
  • Patent number: 10815862
    Abstract: Power systems and enclosures having improved cooling air flow are disclosed. An example power system includes an enclosure; an air inlet location at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure; an air exhaust location at a second location on the exterior of the enclosure to exhaust the air taken in through the air inlet location; and an air routing path defined by the enclosure to direct the air from the air inlet location to the air exhaust location, in order: through one or more first compartments in the enclosure, the one or more first compartments containing at least one of a compressor, a generator, or power conversion circuitry; and through one or more second compartments, the one or more second compartments comprising an engine and a muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Joe Jochman
  • Patent number: 10807730
    Abstract: A motor driven propulsor of an aircraft includes magnets disposed in fan shrouds of fan blades connected with a fan hub, a stator having individual conductive coils in a nacelle located radially outside of the fan hub, and a distributed inverter assembly having several inverter power stages and gate drivers, each of the inverter power stages coupled with a separate gate driver of the gate drivers and a separate coil of the coils in the stator. Each of the gate drivers is configured to individually control supply of direct current to the corresponding inverter power stage. Each of the inverter power stages is configured to convert the direct current supplied to the inverter power stage to an alternating current that is supplied to the corresponding coil in the stator to rotate the magnets and the fan blades around a center line of the fan hub for propelling the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra Digamber Joshi, Konrad Weeber, Michael Solomon Idelchik
  • Patent number: 10808679
    Abstract: An airborne wind turbine system for generation of power via windbags and waterbags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventor: Yik Hei Sia
  • Patent number: 10774806
    Abstract: A hydropower system has a channel and at least one water turbine. The channel has a flowing path, two side walls, and at least one turbine recess recessed in at least one of the side walls and having an opening communicating with the flowing path. The at least one water turbine is mounted in the at least one turbine recess and has a shaft, a blade wheel, and a generator. The blade wheel is mounted on and rotatable with the shaft and partially protrudes into the flowing path. The generator is connected to the shaft. The blade wheel may be propelled to rotate by flowing water flowing through the flowing path to drive the generator to generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Shun Tsung Lu