Patents by Inventor Barry Cullen

Barry Cullen 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).

  • Patent number: 10563640
    Abstract: An energy recovery device comprising a drive mechanism; an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end by a holder element and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein a compensation mechanism is positioned and adapted to combat the shrinkage of the SMA or NTE elements encountered in heating cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Georgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Kevin O'Toole, Keith Warren, Ronan Byrne, Robert Kelly
  • Patent number: 10294928
    Abstract: The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMAs) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements arranged as a plurality of wires positioned substantially parallel with each other to define a core wherein the wires are selected to have different dimensions such that the plurality of wires are activated at substantially the same time in response to a temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Exergyn Limited
    Inventors: Richard Blackburn, Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20180216604
    Abstract: The present application relates to the field of energy recovery and in particular to the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) for same. An energy recovery device is provided which comprises a one way drive mechanism for incrementally winding a spring. An SMA engine comprising a length of SMA material is fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to the one way drive mechanism. The SMA engine is housed in an immersion chamber and adapted to be sequentially filled with fluid to allow heating and/or cooling of the SMA engine to enable high frequency contractions and expansion. An output transmission is provided which is coupled to and driven by the spring. In this manner, repeated contractions of the SMA material incrementally wind the spring to store energy. The spring is restrained by a release mechanism which may be activated to allow the spring to drive an output transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Keith Warren, Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Nicholas Breen, Daniel Healy Grace, Robert Kelly
  • Patent number: 10036118
    Abstract: A plurality of wire elements for use in an energy recovery device comprising Shape Memory Alloy or other Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) material, wherein at least one wire element is fixed at one end and free to move at a second end, such that the wire elements are arranged adjacently and are in friction or interference contact with each other and are secured at the outer perimeter of wires utilising a securing means. In such arrangement, during the operation of the bundle arrangement in a heat engine system, the plate elements act to transmit the aggregated force generation of the wire grouping and thus usefully recover and transmit power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: EXERGYN LIMITED
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Georgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Keith Warren, Ronan Byrne, Rory Beirne
  • Publication number: 20180187659
    Abstract: The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMAs) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements arranged as a plurality of wires positioned substantially parallel with each other to define a core wherein the wires are selected to have different dimensions such that the plurality of wires are activated at substantially the same time in response to a temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Richard BLACKBURN, Barry CULLEN, Kevin O'TOOLE
  • Patent number: 9995289
    Abstract: The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein a holder is configured with a plurality of slots adapted to receive the plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or NTE elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: EXERGYN LIMITED
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Geogiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Keith Warren, Rory Beirne
  • Publication number: 20180149141
    Abstract: An energy recovery device comprising a drive mechanism; an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end by a holder element and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein a compensation mechanism is positioned and adapted to combat the shrinkage of the SMA or NTE elements encountered in heating cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Georgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Kevin O'Toole, Keith Warren, Ronan Byrne, Robert Kelly
  • Patent number: 9885344
    Abstract: The present application relates to the field of energy recovery and in particular to the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) for same. An energy recovery device is provided which comprises a one way drive mechanism for incrementally winding a spring. An SMA engine comprising a length of SMA material is fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to the one way drive mechanism. The SMA engine is housed in an immersion chamber and adapted to be sequentially filled with fluid to allow heating and/or cooling of the SMA engine to enable high frequency contractions and expansion. An output transmission is provided which is coupled to and driven by the spring. In this manner, repeated contractions of the SMA material incrementally wind the spring to store energy. The spring is restrained by a release mechanism which may be activated to allow the spring to drive an output transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Exergyn Limited
    Inventors: Keith Warren, Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Nicholas Breen, Daniel Healy Grace, Robert Kelly
  • Publication number: 20170362772
    Abstract: A plurality of wire elements for use in an energy recovery device comprising Shape Memory Alloy or other Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) material, wherein at least one wire element is fixed at one end and free to move at a second end, such that the wire elements are arranged adjacently and are in friction or interference contact with each other and are secured at the outer perimeter of wires utilising a securing means. In such arrangement, during the operation of the bundle arrangement in a heat engine system, the plate elements act to transmit the aggregated force generation of the wire grouping and thus usefully recover and transmit power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Georgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Keith Warren, Ronan Byme, Rory Beirne
  • Publication number: 20170363073
    Abstract: An energy recovery device comprising a drive mechanism; an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end by a holder element and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements are positioned to from a gap between adjacent elements and configured to improve heat transfer from a fluid to each element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Georgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Kevin O'Toole, Barry Cullen, Robert Kelly, Rory Beirne
  • Publication number: 20170198682
    Abstract: The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein a holder is configured with a plurality of slots adapted to receive the plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or NTE elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Geogiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Keith Warren, Rory Beirne
  • Publication number: 20160208783
    Abstract: The application provides a number of embodiments for an energy recovery device incorporating a SMA core or material. This application solves the problem of pressure pulsing caused by a volume reduction which is a result of the contraction of SMA core and its coupled piston head within a closed immersed chamber. The application disclosed provides a number of effective solutions of removing this issue with minimal additional components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Barry CULLEN, Ronan BYRNE
  • Publication number: 20160138575
    Abstract: The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising a drive mechanism configured with a transmission system; a SMA engine comprising a length of SMA material fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to the drive mechanism; an immersion chamber adapted for housing the SMA engine and adapted to be sequentially filled with fluid to allow heating and/or cooling of the SMA engine; and an output transmission for coupling to and being driven by a gear based or hydraulic based transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Ronan Byrne, Kevin O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20150007558
    Abstract: The present application relates to the field of energy recovery and in particular to the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) for same. An energy recovery device is provided which comprises a one way drive mechanism for incrementally winding a spring. An SMA engine comprising a length of SMA material is fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to the one way drive mechanism. The SMA engine is housed in an immersion chamber and adapted to be sequentially filled with fluid to allow heating and/or cooling of the SMA engine to enable high frequency contractions and expansion. An output transmission is provided which is coupled to and driven by the spring. In this manner, repeated contractions of the SMA material incrementally wind the spring to store energy. The spring is restrained by a release mechanism which may be activated to allow the spring to drive an output transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Keith Warren, Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Nicholas Breen, Daniel Healy Grace, Robert Kelly