Patents Examined by Tulsidas C. Patel
  • Patent number: 11643168
    Abstract: A passive generator system for a marine vessel using an intake manifold having an opening at the bottom of the hull of the vessel. The intake manifold tapers to a point at the rear of the opening and extends upward to an intake funnel that reduces down to a conduit. The conduit has a first portion angled relative to the opening which joins to a second portion at an elbow. The second portion of the conduit extends horizontally to a rear of the vessel, to a conduit exit where water can exit the conduit. An impeller is location in the first portion of the conduit that drives a generator through a shaft between the impeller and the generator, the shaft passing through a top of the first portion of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Victor Rafael Cataluna
  • Patent number: 11639710
    Abstract: Systems and methods of autonomous farm-level control and optimization of wind turbines are provided. Exemplary embodiments comprise a site controller running on a site server. The site controller collects and analyzes yaw control data of a plurality of wind turbines and wind direction data relating to the plurality of wind turbines. The site server determines collective wind direction across an area occupied by the plurality of wind turbines and sends yaw control signals including desired nacelle yaw position instructions to the plurality of wind turbines. The site controller performs wake modeling analysis and determines desired nacelle positions of one or more of the plurality of wind turbines. The desired nacelle yaw position instructions systematically correct static yaw misalignment for all of the plurality of wind turbines. Embodiments of the disclosure provide means to perform whole site or partial site level controls of the yaw controllers of a utility scale wind turbine farm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Danian Zheng, Peter Bachant, Mohit Dua
  • Patent number: 11638942
    Abstract: A metallurgical device, in particular a casting installation, rolling mill or strip processing installation, including at least one machine part rotating about an axis, wherein an energy consumer that is in electrical connection with an energy source is arranged in the machine part. To supply the energy consumer with energy on a sustained basis in spite of adverse ambient conditions, the energy source is designed as a generator which is in connection with the rotating machine part for rotation therewith, wherein the generator is otherwise free of any mechanical connection with the metallurgical device and wherein the generator has a housing element, on which at least one eccentric mass arranged at a location that is at a distance radially from the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Alken, Torsten Müller, Peter Sudau
  • Patent number: 11635060
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine includes determining one or more loading and travel metrics or functions thereof for one or more components of the wind turbine during operation of the wind turbine. The method also includes generating, at least in part, at least one distribution of cumulative loading data for the one or more components using the one or more loading and travel metrics during operation of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes applying a life model of the one or more components to the at least one distribution of cumulative loading data to determine an actual damage accumulation for the one or more components of the wind turbine to date. Moreover, the method includes implementing a corrective action for the wind turbine based on the damage accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dayu Huang, Frederick Wilson Wheeler, George Theodore Dalakos, Ameet Shridhar Deshpande, Su Liu
  • Patent number: 11635059
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing peak power consumption of a grid connected power plant having a plurality of wind turbines. In response to determining that a power production value of the power plant is below a power threshold, one method includes: after a first time delay of a first group of one or more wind turbines, control the first group to operate in a power saving mode for a predefined first power saving period; and after a first time delay of a second group of one or more other wind turbines, control the second group to operate in the power saving mode for a predefined second power saving period. The first time delay of the first group is less than the first time delay of the second group and the power saving mode inhibits a power consuming activity for the wind turbines operating in the power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Mu Wei, Vinu Vijayan, Eric German, Brian Dial-Lapcewich
  • Patent number: 11635058
    Abstract: A vertical shaft wind turbine that is superior in a rotational startability, even at a low wind speed, and is suited to a wind power generator that has high rotational torque. Each blade is an upper-and-lower-ends fixed type vertically long blade which is suitable for use as a wind turbine or a water turbine. The string length and thickness of an upper-and-lower-ends fixed type vertically long blade (8) that is fixed upper and lower ends to a vertical main shaft (7) gradually decrease from a main part (8) thereof to tips of the upper and lower inwardly curved inclined parts (8B, 8B), and a cross section of the main part (8A) is a lift type. A thickness of the cross-sectional shape is continuously and gradually thins from the main part (8) to the tips of the inwardly curved inclined parts (8B, 8B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Global Energy Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11632021
    Abstract: An example system includes a dynamo-electric machine. The dynamo-electric machine includes a rotor that is cylindrical and that is configured for rotation and a stator that is arranged relative to the rotor. The stator has a stepped configuration that defines a first diameter for the stator and a second diameter for the stator. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter. Zones of the stator at the first diameter hold direct-axis (D-axis) windings and zones of the stator at the second diameter hold quadrature axis (Q-axis) windings. An airgap between the rotor and the Q-axis windings is greater than an airgap between the rotor and the D-axis windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen B. Kuznetsov
  • Patent number: 11626775
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for generating energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus may include a first roller comprising a curved roller surface configured to be positioned in substantial physical contact with a first wheel of the vehicle. The first roller may be configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the first wheel. The apparatus may further include a first shaft rotatably couplable to the first roller such that rotation of the first roller causes the first shaft to rotate. The apparatus may further include a first generator operably coupled to the first shaft. The generator may be configured to generate an electrical output based on the rotation of the first shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or to a motor of the vehicle that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy to rotate one or more wheels of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 11624349
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling noise of a wind turbine. The method includes: determining a noise-influencing sector of the wind turbine based on a position of the wind turbine and a position of a noise-influencing site; acquiring a current wind direction; determining whether the wind turbine under the current wind direction operates in the noise-influencing sector; and limiting output power of the wind turbine, and increasing, after the wind turbine goes out from the noise-influencing sector and the output power reaches a rated power, the output power, in a case that the determination is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fashun Ou
  • Patent number: 11621622
    Abstract: A vibration generator includes a housing, a first vibrator, and a second vibrator. The first vibrator includes a hollow yoke having a through hole, a magnet disposed within the through hole of the yoke, and a first elastic support member. The second vibrator includes a coil disposed above or below the magnet within the through hole of the yoke, and a second elastic support member to which the coil is fixed and that is disposed to extend from the inside to the outside of the through hole of the yoke and that is fixed to the housing. The first vibrator vibrates at a first natural frequency in a direction connecting both side portions of the yoke. The second vibrator vibrates at a second natural frequency that is different from the first natural frequency, in the direction connecting the both side portions of the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu Maeda, Katsutoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11621610
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for an electric machine is disclosed. The cooling assembly may include a generally cylindrical cooling jacket for receiving a shaft, a rotor and a stator. Further, the cooling jacket jacket may be disposed in an electric machine housing. Additionally, the cooling assembly may include at least two first passages in the cooling jacket for circulating a first coolant and at least one second passage in the cooling jacket for circulating a second coolant, the second passage being disposed between the at least two first passages. Further, the cooling assembly may include a third passage on an exterior of the machine housing, the third passage extending through the housing to fluidly connect the at least two first passages and bypass the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Leisinger, Joseph D. Tigue, Gregory T. Austin, Ranjit Singh
  • Patent number: 11611184
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a slip ring assembly, which has a slip ring body and at least one slip ring arranged on the slip ring body and a contact module having contact elements. The contact elements contact a slideway of the slip ring. A cleaning device is provided for cleaning the slideway. According to the disclosure, the cleaning device has a cleaning brush having a brush filling contacting the slideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: STEMMANN-TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Dropmann, Rene Kristen, Dirk Lotgering
  • Patent number: 11608857
    Abstract: A passive magnetic bearing employs eddy currents in a copper core between neodymium annular magnets to support the copper core and an associated rotating shaft. The copper core has an annular flange that is coaxial with a hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder supports a rotating shaft. An annular iron core is coaxial with and surrounds the annular flange. Annular neodymium magnets surround the upper and lower portions of the hollow cylinder. In some embodiments a touch-down bearing is made up of an upper and a lower bearing race that are spaced away from the upper surface and lower surface of the annular flange. The core rotates over the bearing race(s) until sufficient magnetic flux is generated to support the copper core and hence the shaft. Once spinning, a magnetic field is generated in the copper core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Lothar Monteith
  • Patent number: 11608811
    Abstract: A method for mitigating loads acting on a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes receiving a plurality of loading signals and determining at least one load acting on the rotor blade based on the loading signals. Further, the method includes determining a type of the load(s) acting on the rotor blade. Moreover, the method includes comparing the load(s) to a loading threshold, such as an extreme loading threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control scheme when the load(s) exceeds the loading threshold. More specifically, the control scheme includes providing a first pitching mode for reducing a first type of load, providing a different, second pitching mode for reducing a different, second type of load, and coordinating the first and second pitching modes based on the type of the at least one load to mitigate the loads acting on the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Prashanth Kumar Reddy Vaddi, Shuang Gu
  • Patent number: 11611272
    Abstract: A rotation operation device includes a stepping motor and an operation element. The stepping motor has a rotating shaft. The operation element is provided on the rotating shaft. The operation element also rotates the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ueda, Hisanobu Suzuki, Naoaki Kurita
  • Patent number: 11608888
    Abstract: A method for driving a transmission mechanism output power in response to an anticipated fluid-pressure gradient field is provided. The method includes sensing the change of direction of pressure gradient field at a desired location from the different area of the transmission mechanism within fluid. The method further includes constructing fluid-pressure gradient field based upon isolation-fluid apparatus or low-density fluid space installed on a transmission mechanism within fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Yanjun Che
  • Patent number: 11606005
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a housing, a stator having end turn windings, a rotatable central shaft, a rotor mounted onto the central shaft, and a rotor end ring mounted onto the central shaft adjacent the rotor, the rotor end ring including an annular disk shaped body having a circumferential outer diameter and a circumferential inner diameter and being formed from a thermally conductive material, a recess formed within a face of the body, an oil jacket formed within a back side of the body, the oil jacket comprising an annular channel having a circumferential outer wall and a circumferential inner wall, two inlets, each inlet extending radially between the inner diameter of the body and the inner wall of the oil jacket, a plurality of outlets, each outlet comprising a circumferential slot, the plurality of outlets equidistantly spaced around the face adjacent the circumferential inner wall of the oil jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Yang, Wei Zeng, Lei Hao
  • Patent number: 11605991
    Abstract: An electric motor includes: a rotor including a first rotor core and a second rotor core; and a stator. A minimum distance from the first rotor core to the stator is shorter than a minimum distance from the second rotor core to the stator. A maximum radius of the first rotor core is longer than a maximum radius of the second rotor core. A shape of a first thin-wall part of the first rotor core and a shape of a second thin-wall part of the second rotor core are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yabe, Takanori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11606010
    Abstract: An electric machine contains a rotor winding head and a device for monitoring same. The device contains a microwave radar system which has a transceiver unit, a sensor, and a cable. The sensor is lance-shaped, and the longitudinal axis of the sensor is arranged in the radial direction. The sensor extends between the stator winding elements, and the sensor contains a lance-shaped support, an antenna, and electric conductors. The support is made of non-magnetic and non-conductive materials, and the antenna is arranged on the sensitive end of the sensor and is connected to the support. The electric conductors connect the antenna to the cable and are connected to the support, and the sensor contains a voltage insulation which surrounds the support, the antenna, and the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Frank, Babette Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11605999
    Abstract: A stator for a drive motor includes: a segmented stator core including a plurality of mounting portions; a bobbin equipped on each mounting portion of the plurality of the mounting portions and having a coil wound thereon; a first casing and a second casing coupled to the bobbin, respectively, at opposite sides of the bobbin with respect to the segmented stator core, and configured to enclose the coil; a passage formed in one of the first casing or the second casing, and configured to allow fluid communication with the inside of the first casing and the second casing; and a terminal portion integrally formed in a remaining one of the first casing or the second casing and configured to allow connection of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Min Yu, Hyoung Jun Cho, Jae Won Ha, Myung Kyu Jeong, Yong Sung Jang, Deok Hwan Na, Young Jin Seo, Dong Yeon Han