Patents Examined by Thomas Quigley
  • Patent number: 9670891
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply for a vehicle, including a generator, a lead battery, an electric storage device that is connected in parallel to the lead battery and to the generator, a starter circuit that has a capacitor and a starter and is connected in parallel to the lead battery and to the generator, and at least two switches of a first switch connected in series to the lead battery, a second switch connected in series to the power supply, and a third switch connected in series to the starter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Keiji Miyake, Katsuyoshi Fujita, Kazuyoshi Takada, Wataru Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9664176
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of automatically calculating a power curve limit for the power curve monitoring of a wind turbine that may set an optimal power curve limit by automatically calculating a power curve limit for power curve monitoring even if wind speed-power data measured at a wind turbine includes a large amount of abnormal data in addition to normal data. To this end, the present invention includes: classifying, by an input data classifying unit, the input data on wind power generation through a variable speed bin; calculating, by a power calculating unit, a power average value and standard deviation for each bin for the classified input data; estimating, by a power curve estimating unit, a power curve for the calculated power average value for each bin; searching for, by a limit searching unit, an accurate power curve limit while moving the estimated power curve; and setting, by a data extracting unit, the data included in the accurate power curve limit as new input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventors: Joon Young Park, Jun Shin Lee, Jae Kyung Lee, Ki Yong Oh, Byoung Mok Park, Keum Seok Kang, Moo Sung Ryu, Seok Tae Kim, Ji Young Kim
  • Patent number: 9664234
    Abstract: A power generating bearing assembly comprising a power generating subassembly integrated into a bearing. The power generating subassembly utilizes the relative motion between a bearing inner ring and a bearing outer ring of the bearing to generate electrical power. A sealing system is attached to one of the bearings. The power generating subassembly includes an electrical generator in operational engagement with a magnetically polarized material. The electrical generator is attached to the non-sealing carrying bearing. The magnetically polarized material is integrated into a supported member, which is a unitary section of the seal that extends axially from an end surface of the bearing rings. The relative motion between the rings engages the electrical generator and the magnetically polarized material causing a generator core of the electrical generator to create an electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Frank Bartl, Joseph Erskine, Sebastian Ziegler, Andreas Clemens Van Der Ham
  • Patent number: 9657709
    Abstract: A power plant, and a method for using an electrical unit therefor are disclosed, wherein, an electrical machine can be connected to a power network via a converter and a block transformer. A method is disclosed for using the electrical unit, wherein the converter disconnects the block transformer from the machine in the event of a malfunction of the block transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Claes Hillberg, Georg Traxler-Samek, Peter Steimer
  • Patent number: 9643729
    Abstract: A system for providing regenerative power for an aircraft to sustain flight includes multiple energy cells disposed within the aircraft, the energy cells being configured to supply power to a propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, a fan generator harnessing propeller blast created by an aircraft propeller and converting kinetic energy of the propeller blast into electrical energy, a charger receiving the electrical energy generated by the fan generator and using the electrical energy to recharge one or more of the energy cells, and a power transfer switch selectively connecting one of the energy cells to the propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, such that the energy cells are rotated one at a time to power the propulsion motor and electronics. During recharging, the one or more of the energy cells are disconnected by the power transfer switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ElectronAir LLC
    Inventor: Dale Martin Walter-Robinson
  • Patent number: 9637013
    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: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LOOK FOR THE POWER, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Saavedra
  • Patent number: 9624891
    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 front the starter battery pack to an electric starter motor, which initiates operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert John Koenen, Jeffrey Zeiler
  • Patent number: 9617980
    Abstract: A wind power generating system includes: a wind mill, an induction rotating machine coupled to a rotating shaft of the wind mill; a power converting device that supplies exciting current to the induction rotating machine; a heat medium circulating structure that circulates a heat medium that receives heat generated by the induction rotating machine; a heat accumulator that accumulates heat of the heat medium; a thermal power generator that converts, into electric power, the heat of the heat medium accumulated in the heat accumulator; and an armature control unit that controls the exciting current in accordance with electric power demand of an electric power system. The armature control unit performs one or both of power generation mode control in which the induction rotating machine is operated as a power generator and heat generation mode control in which the induction rotating machine is operated as a heat generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Kyoto University
    Inventors: Toru Okazaki, Taketsune Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9605657
    Abstract: An electric power generation system includes a wind turbine, a conductor rotating as the wind turbine rotates, a heat transfer medium vessel, a magnetic field generator, a heat accumulator, and an electric power generation unit. The magnetic field generator is operated to generate a magnetic field and therein the conductor is rotated and thus heated through induction, and the conductor's heat is transmitted to the water in the heat transfer medium vessel to generate steam which is in turn supplied to a steam turbine and thus drives an electric power generator to generate electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9590549
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling the torque in a wind turbine is described wherein the wind turbine is configured to deliver power via a converter to a public grid. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a fault signal; and, in response to said fault signal, a converter controller controllably ramping down the torque of said turbine from a nominal torque value to a predetermined low torque value within a predetermined time window selected from 0.2-2 seconds, preferably 0.5-1.5 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: XEMC DARWIND B.V.
    Inventor: Michiel Eduard Cornelis Damen
  • Patent number: 9579979
    Abstract: An arrangement for supplying electric energy to traction motors and auxiliaries of a railway vehicle includes, at least two internal-combustion engines, each in combination with an assigned electric machine. At least one internal-combustion engine/machine combination is operated, whereupon the electric machine generates alternating current during a generator mode of operation, which alternating current, in a first operating mode, is rectified by at least one generator rectifier and supplied to a direct-current link in the form of direct current. The direct-current link supplies electric energy to at least one traction motor of the railway vehicle. In the first operating mode, electric energy from the direct-current link is supplied to the auxiliaries via an auxiliaries inverter and via an auxiliaries connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Karlheinz Geradts
  • Patent number: 9562512
    Abstract: A dual rotor arrangement 100 for a wind or water turbine has a planetary gearbox with two inputs and an output. One rotor 1 is connected to one of the inputs 3 and the other rotor 8 is connected to the other input 6. A generator is connected to the high speed shaft 11. The rotational speed of the output is determined by the relative rotational speeds of the rotors which means that the generator produces electricity of a desired frequency. The arrangement enables electricity of constant frequency to be generated under conditions where the wind or water speed is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AURORA LIMITED
    Inventor: Marek Jakubaszek
  • Patent number: 9564786
    Abstract: A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Michael Staghøj, Gerner Larsen, Niels Christian Olsen, Frank Møller Hansen, Jörg Wadehn
  • Patent number: 9548692
    Abstract: A power control system for a generator includes a control unit, an input sensing unit, an output sensing unit, and a power conversion unit. The input sensing unit senses a voltage and a current, generated from the generator. The output sensing unit senses a load voltage and a load current, received by the load. The power conversion unit receives the voltage and the current, and converts the voltage and the current into the load voltage and the load current. The control unit judges and predicts the mechanical behavior of the generator to control the generator according to the received voltage, the current, the load voltage, and the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Hsiao, Jo-Fang Wei
  • Patent number: 9548690
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling the operation of a power generation system configured to supply power to an electrical grid may generally include monitoring a rotor speed of a generator of the power generation system and determining a gain scaling factor based on the rotor speed, wherein the gain scaling factor increases with decreases in the rotor speed across a range of rotor speeds. In addition, the method may include adjusting a regulator gain to be applied within a current regulator of the power generation system based on the gain scaling factor and applying the adjusted regulator gain within the current regulator in order to generate a voltage command signal for controlling a power converter of the power generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Einar Vaughn Larsen, Sidney Allen Barker
  • Patent number: 9543876
    Abstract: A brushless, three phase wound field synchronous machine (WFSM) provides an electromechanical power transfer system wherein it may serve as both a starter and a generator. Power for the excitation system of the WFSM is provided by a three phase flux switching generator (FSG). The three phase FSG also provides position sensor functionality for the WFSM when the WFSM operates in the starter/motor mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, David A. Fox, Jason A. Ohnemus, Albert L. Markunas
  • Patent number: 9534584
    Abstract: A wind turbine system includes turbine blades (16) that turn a low speed shaft (18). A shrink disc coupling (24) radially connects the low speed shaft to a low speed gear box input shaft (22). A brake (26) for the gear box input shaft is operatively connected with the coupling. At least one circuit including a processor controls the brake to keep torsional force on the gear box input shaft below a threshold. The at least one circuit is associated with sensors that can sense conditions away from the gear box input shaft. The at least one circuit can determine when a current condition exists which can cause the threshold to soon be exceeded if preventive braking is not timely applied to the gear box input shaft. The current condition can include a sensed weather condition that is approaching the wind turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Industries Holdings
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Ossyra
  • Patent number: 9525323
    Abstract: An energy harvester system including a primary energy collector (PEC), a cam gear ring, multiple secondary energy collectors (SEC), and a central gear is provided. The PEC and the SECs harness ambient motion energy. The PEC is attached to a support base member. The cam gear ring is operably engaged to the PEC and rotated by the PEC. The SECs are positioned in a space defined by the cam gear ring and rotated on receiving ambient motion energy. One SEC is unclamped from the support base member and slides towards the central gear when the cam gear ring contacts the SEC, while the other SECs are clamped on the support base member. The central gear operably engages with the unclamped SEC that slid towards the central gear and rotates with the unclamped SEC. The rotating central gear can be coupled to different power generating devices for generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy Lee, Wenbo Fan, Selena Guo, Bryan Wu, Eric Guo, Jerry Xu
  • Patent number: 9520758
    Abstract: An energy harvester system (EHS) for converting a multiple degree of freedom (MDF) pendulum motion into a rotational motion is provided. The EHS includes a pendulum, a pointing element, and motion control slots (MCSs) enclosed in an external housing. Ambient motion from the external housing generates a MDF pendulum motion in the pendulum. The pointing element is slidably positioned on a rod of the pendulum. The MCSs receive a connector that connects the pointing element to the rod of the pendulum and allow the connector to traverse the MCSs, thereby controlling slidable movement of the pointing element along with the pendulum. When the pendulum moves to first ends of the MCSs, the pointing element slides on the rod to allow a pointer of the pointing element to contact and rotate a gear, thereby converting the MDF pendulum motion into a rotational motion of the gear, which drives an electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Xu, Run De Zhu, Yu Qing Liu, Ethan Hu, Bocheng Cai
  • Patent number: 9509141
    Abstract: A wind turbine device having in one embodiment a diesel generator to initialize a black start in case of a blackout of an electricity network is disclosed. For performing the black start, the diesel generator provides a predetermined voltage to a power output of the wind turbine device in order to imitate the electricity network in its running state. A wind park is also disclosed, the wind park having in one embodiment at least two wind turbine devices. In one embodiment a wind park controller provides the same reference value for the phase angle ? for the at least two turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Sathees Kumar, Kaj Skov Nielsen