Patents Examined by Thomas Quigley
  • Patent number: 10012214
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a wind farm is provided. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbines and a wind farm controller. The controller is configured to detect a high wind condition from at least one wind turbine in the wind farm, reduce a parameter setpoint of at least one other wind turbine, and increase a cut-out wind speed threshold of the at least one other wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Martin Ansbjerg Kjær, Ali Zaib, Erik Carl Lehnskov Miranda
  • Patent number: 10014812
    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: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Harley C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9998046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine and to the implementation method thereof, said turbine comprising a blade mounted such that it can rotate about a central axis and an electromagnetic synchronous machine arranged with the blade in such a way as to modify the angular rotation speed of the blade in order to optimize the mechanical efficiency of the blade as a function of the speed of the incident fluid acting on the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SAVE INNOVATIONS
    Inventor: Bernard Perriere
  • Patent number: 9985561
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a generator of electric energy that is connected to an electric supply grid on a grid connection point, comprising the following steps: incorporating at least one grid characteristic of the electric supply grid related to the grid connection point, and controlling the generator in such way that it feeds power into the electric supply grid depending on the incorporated grid characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Diedrichs, Kai Busker, Alfred Beekmann
  • Patent number: 9973057
    Abstract: Device for the reversible transfer of linear motion into rotational motion and for the conversion of rotational motion into electrical energy and vice versa. The device comprises a central rail and a support element which surrounds the central rail or is being surrounded by the central rail, the support element being positioned so as to be capable of performing a linear motion relative to the central rail in the longitudinal direction of the central rail. A number of rolling bodies which are in contact with the central rail are rotationally mounted in the support element. The rolling bodies rotate during the linear motion of the support element relative to the central rail in conjunction with the central rail. The linear motion is also connected to the drive or output of an electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SINN Power GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Sinn
  • Patent number: 9957708
    Abstract: “CONSTRUCTION DEVICE INTRODUCED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POWER PLANT MODULE”, more specifically relating to an electrical power plant module (1) of the type used for accessibility to electrical energy, primarily in remote areas such as isolated rural communities, mining camps, oil platforms, areas recently affected by storms, areas affected by earthquakes, offshore platforms, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ARUANÃ ENERGIA S/A
    Inventors: Brian Ray Brewer, Robert James McKinnon
  • Patent number: 9951753
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an offshore electrical energy generator is disclosed. The generator includes a buoy configured to float on a body of water. A wind turbine is mounted to the buoy. An air storage tank is configured for submersion. An air compressor is stowed within the buoy and coupled to the wind turbine and configured to charge the air storage tank in response to receiving wind energy collected by the wind turbine. An expansion turbine is stowed within the buoy and is configured to receive compressed air stored within the air storage tank and to decompress the compressed air to generate electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Nathan A. Sinclair, David P. Wilkinson, Jeffrey P. Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 9941772
    Abstract: The present invention provides a marine propulsion system that is suitable for any civilian and military marine vessels and which offers operational flexibility. The marine propulsion system includes a pair of ac busbars, each in parallel connection with a power converter. The respective power converters each connected in parallel to a propulsion motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Anthony Lewis
  • Patent number: 9932969
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wind turbine, which comprises a rotatable structure being coupled to a hub of the wind turbine and to a generator rotor comprising a brake disc, a stationary structure being coupled to a generator stator and comprising a stator frame and a safety bearing element. The rotatable structure is rotatably coupled to the stationary structure, wherein the stator frame comprises a brake mounting section to which a calliper brake is mountable such that the brake disc is breakable by the mounted calliper brake. The safety bearing element is mounted to the brake mounting section such that the brake disc is in slidable contact with the safety bearing element if a distance between the brake mounting section and the brake disc is reduced below a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Uffe Eriksen, Claus Johansen, Jens Anton Agerskov Veng
  • Patent number: 9917490
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided, comprising a tail cone and a low-pressure spool outside the tail cone. An input shaft may be coupled to the low-pressure spool and inside the tail cone. A differential may be coupled to the input shaft and inside the tail cone. A generator may be coupled to the differential and also disposed inside the tail cone. An oil pump may be configured to pump oil through the generator to the differential. A generator assembly is also provided. The generator assembly may comprise an input shaft, a differential coupled to the input shaft, a rotating transfer tube coupled to the differential, a generator coupled to rotating transfer tube, and an oil pump configured to pump oil from the generator, through the rotating transfer tube, and into the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Glenn C. Lemmers, Todd A. Spierling
  • Patent number: 9915238
    Abstract: A starter battery pack with a start button included as part of the starter battery pack is shown and described. The starter battery pack includes a start button that, when the starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of outdoor power equipment, such as a lawn tractor, allows the starter battery pack to provide power to a starting circuit of the power equipment. The battery pack is selectively rechargeable and preferably is a type of battery, such as lithium ion, that can be repeatedly discharged and recharged without affecting battery life. When the starter battery pack is received within the receptacle, activation of the start button provides current and voltage from the starter battery pack to an electric starter motor, which initiates operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen
  • Patent number: 9897073
    Abstract: A method for damping torsional vibrations in a power generation plant that includes a drive train, a rotor fitted at a rotor-side end of the drive train, and a generator driven via the drive train and fitted at a generator-side end of the drive train includes determining an angular difference between a first point and a second point on the drive train over time. The method further includes damping torsional vibrations in the drive train on the basis of the time profile of the determined angular difference by correspondingly presetting a load torque of the generator and a drive torque of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Moerbe, Ralf Schmidt, Andreas Quell
  • Patent number: 9897071
    Abstract: A power generation assembly for use in generating electrical power from air or water currents includes a rail system including at least one rail and a vane assembly, drivable by the air or water currents. A car assembly is slidably mounted to the rail and coupled to the vane assembly: wherein movement of vanes of the vane assembly generates linear movement of the car assembly. An electrical energy generating system includes two or more independent sets of stator windings carried by the rail system, and a piston, carried by the car assembly, wherein linear movement of the piston relative to the stator windings generates electrical energy. A switching system is operable to controllably and individually activate each of the two or more independent sets of stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: LANDERS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gary Davison, Fred Davison
  • Patent number: 9890762
    Abstract: A hydraulic power system is used in a river, ocean or any other body of water having a current. The method is useful for generating useful electric power from flowing water. The flowing water rotates a turbine and a pump that provides hydraulic power to an electric generator for a clean, renewable energy source. The hydraulic power system tethered to the bottom of a body of water and a positive buoyancy mechanism can be integrated or tethered to the pump assembly. The positive buoyancy can support the pump assembly at a predetermined distance above the sea floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Gregory McManus
  • Patent number: 9882518
    Abstract: An auxiliary winding for use in an engine-driven generator system is disclosed. The auxiliary winding is separate from but resides with the main winding in the stator slots of an alternator in the generator system. The auxiliary winding is configured to utilize the fundamental component of the flux in the airgap of the alternator along with selected spatial harmonic components to provide power to an automatic voltage regulator during all operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Graham W. McLean
  • Patent number: 9850883
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, for generating electricity from airflow and thermal energy. In one aspect, an electricity generating apparatus includes a housing including a double-walled section containing a thermal salt to store heat and form a pressure chamber within the housing, a collector coupled with the housing and including two or more inlet channels configured to direct ambient air into the pressure chamber, and a nozzle coupled with the housing configured to direct a convection current of air into the pressure chamber, and a turbine including a rotor and a stator to generate electricity from air flow through the pressure chamber, the rotor having an aerodynamic rotor case and convergent blades and the stator having an aerodynamic stator case and divergent blades, and where the double-walled section containing the thermal salt surrounds at least a portion of the collector and surrounds a portion of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Bajaura S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Diego Moreno Maldonado, Diego Moreno Garcia
  • Patent number: 9837824
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection system for connecting a power generator to a DC electrical power system, with a controllable voltage source unit functionally connected in series with the power generator to receive AC electrical power from the power generator, and to generate an AC electrical power output accordingly, and a rectifier arranged to receive AC electrical power output from said voltage source unit and to rectify the AC electrical power output to a DC electrical power to be provided to the DC electrical power system. The invention also relates to method for connecting a power generator to a DC electrical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Philip Carne Kjær, Dumitru-Mihai Valcan, Lars Helle
  • Patent number: 9831811
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a turbogenerator system when a power electronics circuit of the turbogenerator system is unable to provide a sufficient load on the turbogenerator to prevent the turbogenerator from accelerating uncontrollably is described. The apparatus includes a monitor including a first sensing device operable to detect a condition of the turbogenerator, and a brake controller responsive to a turbogenerator detection output from the first sensing device to issue a first brake control signal for operating a brake circuit to prevent the turbogenerator from accelerating uncontrollably and a second brake control signal for operating the brake circuit to permit resumption of normal operation of the turbogenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bowman Power Group Limited
    Inventors: John Lyons, Stephen Cusworth, Jonathon McGuire, Shinri Szymko, Toby King
  • Patent number: 9819296
    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: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Harley C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9812928
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for generating power using inertia of a load in a moving vehicle. The apparatus includes a vessel having a volume that is capable of an expansion and a contraction, and containing a fluid under a pressure. The fluid is released from the vessel as a force is exerted by the load of the vehicle against the vessel. The apparatus includes a reservoir, operably connected to the vessel by fluid conduit. The reservoir contains the fluid under pressure until an optimum pressure is reached at which point the reservoir releases the fluid to a power generator. The power generator then generates electrical power. Excess fluid released from the power generator then returns to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LOOK FOR THE POWER, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Saavedra