Patents by Inventor Bruno Francoeur

Bruno Francoeur 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).

  • Publication number: 20220130630
    Abstract: A bistable electromagnetic actuator is described. The actuator includes a mobile assembly and a fixed assembly. The mobile assembly includes at least one pair of ferromagnetic plunger-cores, a frame integrally connecting the plunger-cores, and a guiding element. The fixed assembly includes a ferromagnetic core having cavities defined on each of its two sides configured to receive a corresponding one of the plunger-cores, at least one magnet positioned between the cavities in the core and being able to create a first magnetic flux, at least one coil operable via an excitation current to create a second magnetic flux, and a guiding element adapted to cooperate with the guiding element of the mobile assembly to allow the mobile assembly to move between a first and a second stable position. Methods for actuating the bistable electromagnetic actuator are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 9704646
    Abstract: Apparatus, system and methods for transferring of a ferromagnetic metal ribbon from a roll mounted on a mandrel to another mandrel, including a mandrel located around electrical coils of a transformer. The system includes an apparatus for securing a free end of a ribbon roll including a reel onto which the ribbon roll is mounted and a ribbon retention mechanism having retaining elements movable between a retaining position in which the free end of the ribbon roll is secured on the reel and a releasing position in which the free end of the ribbon roll is free from the reel. An apparatus and method for rolling up a cuttable ferromagnetic ribbon on a mandrel are also disclosed. An apparatus and method for rolling up a cuttable ferromagnetic ribbon on a mandrel are also disclosed. An apparatus and method for manipulating and displacing ferromagnetic material along a path are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Publication number: 20170096721
    Abstract: A method and a system for continuously in-line annealing a forwarding ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon in a curved shape to improve its magnetic properties without causing the ribbon to become brittle and which operates at significant high ribbon feeding rates. The amorphous alloy ribbon is fed forward, tensioned and guided along a path at a preset feeding rate and is heated at a point along the path at a rate greater than 103° C./sec to a temperature to initiate a thermal treatment. Then the ribbon is initially cooled at a rate greater than 103° C./sec until the thermal treatment ends. During the thermal treatment, a series of mechanical constraints is applied on the ribbon until the amorphous alloy ribbon adopts a specific shape at rest after the thermal treatment is ended. After the initial cooling, the amorphous alloy ribbon is subsequently cooled at a sufficient rate to a temperature that will preserve the specific shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: BRUNO FRANCOEUR, PIERRE COUTURE
  • Patent number: 9484140
    Abstract: A method and a system for continuously in-line annealing a forwarding ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon in a curved shape to improve its magnetic properties without causing the ribbon to become brittle and which operates at significant high ribbon feeding rates. The amorphous alloy ribbon is fed forward, tensioned and guided along a path at a preset feeding rate and is heated at a point along the path at a rate greater than 103° C./sec to a temperature to initiate a thermal treatment. Then the ribbon is initially cooled at a rate greater than 103° C./sec until the thermal treatment ends. During the thermal treatment, a series of mechanical constraints is applied on the ribbon until the amorphous alloy ribbon adopts a specific shape at rest after the thermal treatment is ended. After the initial cooling, the amorphous alloy ribbon is subsequently cooled at a sufficient rate to a temperature that will preserve the specific shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 9449750
    Abstract: A support frame for an electrical transformer assembly, comprising two loop-shaped parts, each loop-shaped part having a plurality of limbs, each limb having a peripheral recessed portion in which a primary electrical coil is mountable, and at least one secondary coil is mountable in piggyback on the primary electrical coil, one limb of each loop-shaped part having a straight section. The frame also includes an adjustable attaching means for attaching one of the loop-shaped parts with respect to the other loop-shaped part and adjusting a distance therebetween, so that only the straight sections are adjacent and form a central leg, the central leg being for receiving a magnetic core distinct from the attaching means. The frame provides a means and a method to efficiently secure adjacent windings in a circular core transformer kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Publication number: 20160086712
    Abstract: A support frame for an electrical transformer assembly, comprising two loop-shaped parts, each loop-shaped part having a plurality of limbs, each limb having a peripheral recessed portion in which a primary electrical coil is mountable, and at least one secondary coil is mountable in piggyback on the primary electrical coil, one limb of each loop-shaped part having a straight section. The frame also includes an adjustable attaching means for attaching one of the loop-shaped parts with respect to the other loop-shaped part and adjusting a distance therebetween, so that only the straight sections are adjacent and form a central leg, the central leg being for receiving a magnetic core distinct from the attaching means. The frame provides a means and a method to efficiently secure adjacent windings in a circular core transformer kernel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: BRUNO FRANCOEUR, PIERRE COUTURE
  • Patent number: 9208933
    Abstract: A support frame for an electrical transformer assembly, comprising two loop-shaped parts, each loop-shaped part having a plurality of limbs, each limb having a peripheral recessed portion in which a primary electrical coil is mountable, and at least one secondary coil is mountable in piggyback on the primary electrical coil, one limb of each loop-shaped part having a straight section. The frame also includes an adjustable attaching means for attaching one of the loop-shaped parts with respect to the other loop-shaped part and adjusting a distance therebetween, so that only the straight sections are adjacent and form a central leg, the central leg being for receiving a magnetic core distinct from the attaching means. The frame provides a means and a method to efficiently secure adjacent windings in a circular core transformer kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Publication number: 20140097286
    Abstract: Apparatus, system and methods for transferring of a ferromagnetic metal ribbon from a roll mounted on a mandrel to another mandrel, including a mandrel located around electrical coils of a transformer. The system includes an apparatus for securing a free end of a ribbon roll including a reel onto which the ribbon roll is mounted and a ribbon retention mechanism having retaining elements movable between a retaining position in which the free end of the ribbon roll is secured on the reel and a releasing position in which the free end of the ribbon roll is free from the reel. An apparatus and method for rolling up a cuttable ferromagnetic ribbon on a mandrel are also disclosed. An apparatus and method for rolling up a cuttable ferromagnetic ribbon on a mandrel are also disclosed. An apparatus and method for manipulating and displacing ferromagnetic material along a path are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Publication number: 20130139929
    Abstract: A method and a system for continuously in-line annealing a forwarding ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon in a curved shape to improve its magnetic properties without causing the ribbon to become brittle and which operates at significant high ribbon feeding rates. The amorphous alloy ribbon is fed forward, tensioned and guided along a path at a preset feeding rate and is heated at a point along the path at a rate greater than 103° C./sec to a temperature to initiate a thermal treatment. Then the ribbon is initially cooled at a rate greater than 103° C./sec until the thermal treatment ends. During the thermal treatment, a series of mechanical constraints is applied on the ribbon until the amorphous alloy ribbon adopts a specific shape at rest after the thermal treatment is ended. After the initial cooling, the amorphous alloy ribbon is subsequently cooled at a sufficient rate to a temperature that will preserve the specific shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Publication number: 20130088314
    Abstract: A support frame for an electrical transformer assembly, comprising two loop-shaped parts, each loop-shaped part having a plurality of limbs, each limb having a peripheral recessed portion in which a primary electrical coil is mountable, and at least one secondary coil is mountable in piggyback on the primary electrical coil, one limb of each loop-shaped part having a straight section. The frame also includes an adjustable attaching means for attaching one of the loop-shaped parts with respect to the other loop-shaped part and adjusting a distance therebetween, so that only the straight sections are adjacent and form a central leg, the central leg being for receiving a magnetic core distinct from the attaching means. The frame provides a means and a method to efficiently secure adjacent windings in a circular core transformer kernel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 6954368
    Abstract: The low stray interconnecton power converting module is for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage. It comprises two DC voltage terminals for receiving the DC voltage, an AC voltage terminal for delivering the AC voltage, and a half-bridge including a pair of power switching elements connected as a series totem pole between the DC voltage terminals via the AC voltage terminal. It also comprises a decoupling device for decoupling the half-bridge. The decoupling device comprises a series of at least two adjacent superimposed electrode plates separated by a dielectric material and extending proximately in overlapping relation with the half-bridge. Each of the adjacent electrode plates is connected to a different one of the DC terminals. The electrode plates form with the two power switching elements, the DC terminals and the AC terminal, a reduced cross section belt-like current closed loop by which a low stray interconnection inductance power converting module is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hydro-Québec
    Inventors: Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 6687284
    Abstract: To re-ignite efficiently an arc-furnace arc extending between an electrode and a material to be melt, a second energy supply is provided to maintain a plasma link between the electrode and the melting material when the arc-furnace arc is interrupted The electrode is supplied by a large current power supply including a large current conductor having a self inductance and being connected to the electrode. The second energy supply is an electrical power supply wherein a high frequency bypass impedance is provided in a supply path to the large current conductor at a distance from a capacitive circuit to allow a high frequency resonant circuit to be formed by the conductor section between the capacitive circuit and the bypass impedance without adversely affecting the large current power supply of the arc furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Centre d'Innovation sur le Transport d'Energie du Québec
    Inventors: François Beauregard, Bruno Francoeur
  • Patent number: 6384549
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and a stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating a signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Ghislain Lambert, Christian Pronovost, Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Publication number: 20010017527
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and a stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating a signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Ghislain Lambert, Christian Pronovost, Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 6229234
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and the stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating the signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Ghislain Lambert, Christian Pronovost, Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 5793624
    Abstract: The battery charger comprises a power factor correcting and voltage regulating apparatus having an inductor through which current is modulated by a modulator to obtain an efficient regulation and an efficient power factor correction. According to a first embodiment, the modulator comprises two rectifying elements connected to two controllable high frequency bidirectional switch elements. According to a second embodiment, the modulator comprises a rectifying element connected to a controllable high frequency switch. According to a third embodiment, an efficient battery charger is provided. It comprises an inverter including four controllable high frequency bidirectional switch elements connected in a bridge configuration. According to a fourth embodiment, a two-part battery charger is provided. It has an indicator for indicating quality of the coupling between the two parts thereof. According to a fifth embodiment, a two-part battery charger is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Pierre Couture, Karim Slimani, Bruno Francoeur
  • Patent number: 5771165
    Abstract: The battery charger including a power factor correcting and voltage regulating apparatus having an inductor through which current is modulated by a modulator to obtain an efficient regulation and an efficient power factor correction. According to a first embodiment, the modulator comprises two rectifying elements connected to two controllable high frequency bidirectional switch elements. According to a second embodiment, the modulator comprises a rectifying element connected to a controllable high frequency switch. According to a third embodiment, an efficient battery charger is provided. It comprises an inverter including four controllable high frequency bidirectional switch elements connected in a bridge configuration. According to a fourth embodiment, a two-part battery charger is provided. It has an indicator for indicating quality of the coupling between the two parts thereof. According to a fifth embodiment, a two-part battery charger is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Pierre Couture, Karim Slimani, Bruno Francoeur
  • Patent number: 5753991
    Abstract: The multiphase brushless AC electric machine comprises a stator frame having a surface provided with parallel slots and projections disposed alternately, each of the openings being substantially as wide as the widest width of the corresponding slot; and a rotor frame having a surface provided with permanent magnet means having respective surface sections facing the slots and projections. All of the surface sections of the magnet means produce a magnetic flux density having a component average amplitude B.sub.r (.theta.) perpendicular to the corresponding surface of the stator, which is substantially defined by the following equation:B.sub.r (.theta.)=M.sub.r (.theta.).multidot.L.sub.a (.theta.)/L.sub.v (.theta.)where L.sub.a (.theta.) is defined by the following equation: ##EQU1## where .theta. is a position angle in radians with respect to a reference position on the rotor frame; B.sub.r (.theta.) is the component average amplitude at the position angle .theta.; L.sub.v (.theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Pierre Couture, Bruno Francoeur
  • Patent number: 5714824
    Abstract: The conductor section is for a stator frame of a polyphase dynamoelectric machine. The stator frame is provided with a series of elongated parallel slots for receiving respectively conductor sections. The conductor section comprises two parallel conductor sides of substantially rectangular cross section adapted to fit respectively into two corresponding parallel slots of the stator frame, the two sides defining a plane; and at least one conductor head of substantially rectangular cross section, connecting two adjacent ends of the parallel sides. The head shows a substantially U-shaped body when seen from a top view perpendicular to the plane, and a waved-shape body when seen from a front view contained in the plane. The head having top and bottom surfaces facing only one side of the plane from one end of the head to the other end thereof. Methods for mounting conductor sections of stator winding onto a circular shaped stator frame are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Pierre Couture, Bruno Francoeur, Andre Langlois, Jacques Leduc, Stephane Reiher, Jan Svoboda
  • Patent number: 5619787
    Abstract: A method for mounting conductor sections of a stator winding onto a circular shaped stator frame of a dynamoelectric machine. Each conductor section has two parallel conductor sides and at least one conductor head connecting two adjacent ends of the parallel sides. The stator frame is provided with circumferentially distributed parallel slots. One conductor side of each conductor section is inserted at least partially into a corresponding slot of the parallel slots. The other conductor side of each conductor section is positioned, one beside the other, along the stator frame. The other conductor sides are then circumferentially shifted with respect to the stator frame until the other conductor sides are superimposed respectively above the one conductor side for forming pairs of superimposed conductor sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Pierre Couture, Bruno Francoeur, Andre Langlois, Jacques Leduc, Stephane Reiher, Jan Svoboda