Patents by Inventor Alan Crapo
Alan Crapo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20260066758Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2025Publication date: March 5, 2026Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Patent number: 12445029Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2023Date of Patent: October 14, 2025Assignee: Mainspring Energy, Inc.Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Publication number: 20230198367Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Patent number: 11616428Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Mainspring Energy, Inc.Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Publication number: 20210288570Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Patent number: 10985641Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: MAINSPRING ENERGY, INC.Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Patent number: 10630121Abstract: A rotor structure for a conical air gap electrodynamic machine has one or more rotor assemblies arranged on an axis of rotation. Each of the one or more rotor assemblies includes magnetically permeable structures positioned radially about the axis of rotation. The magnetically permeable structures include first surfaces confronting the conical air gap that are oriented at an angle to the axis of rotation and second adjacent surfaces that are at an angle to the axis of rotation. The second adjacent surfaces are disposed radially closer to the axis of rotation than the first surfaces. One or more groups of magnetic structures include magnetic material. The one or more groups of magnetic structures include a first group of magnetic structures interleaved with the magnetically permeable structures, a second group of magnetic structures, and a flux conductor shield disposed adjacent to the second group of magnetic structures.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Paul Knauer, Alan Crapo
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Publication number: 20200036273Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: John Lawler, John Powers, Scott Coakley, Alan Crapo, David DeGraaff, Christopher David Gadda, Andrew Hancock, Shannon Miller, Samuel Sherman, Matthew Svrcek, Kevin Walters
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Publication number: 20050088047Abstract: A brushless permanent magnet electric machine includes a stator assembly having a stator core that defines (12×n) slots and stator teeth having a generally “T”-shaped cross section. Winding wire is wound around the stator teeth, wherein a radially outer edge of the stator teeth define a crowned surface. A rotor includes permanent magnets defining (12±2)n poles, wherein n is an integer greater than zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2003Publication date: April 28, 2005Inventors: Alan Crapo, Gary Horst