Patents by Inventor Charles Y. Lafontaine
Charles Y. Lafontaine 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: 20120262021Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. The apparatus comprises a rotor with permanent magnets, a stator with a winding, and a cooling system. Mechanisms to prevent the rotor magnets from clashing with the stator by minimizing rotor displacement, and absorbing unacceptable rotor displacement are disclosed. The cooling system directs coolant flow into thermal contact with at least one of the winding and magnets, and includes at least one passageway through the stator core. Various open and closed cooling systems are described. Cooling is facilitated by, for example, loosely wrapping the winding end turns, use of an asynchronous airflow source, and/or directing coolant through conduits extending through the stator into thermal contact with the windings.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: MAGNETIC APPLICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Patent number: 8207642Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. The apparatus comprises a rotor with permanent magnets, a stator with a winding, and a cooling system. Mechanisms to prevent the rotor magnets from clashing with the stator by minimizing rotor displacement, and absorbing unacceptable rotor displacement are disclosed. The cooling system directs coolant flow into thermal contact with at least one of the winding and magnets, and includes at least one passageway through the stator core. Various open and closed cooling systems are described. Cooling is facilitated by, for example, loosely wrapping the winding end turns, use of an asynchronous airflow source, and/or directing coolant through conduits extending through the stator into thermal contact with the windings.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Magnetic Applications Inc.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Publication number: 20120105020Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventors: Harold C. Scott, Dave E. Williams, Charles Y. Lafontaine
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Publication number: 20120038234Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. Various aspects of the invention provide a means of significantly increasing the output of permanent magnet alternators while addressing the issues of radial loading applied to a permanent magnet alternator rotor. Another aspect of the invention allows for the production of power in two discrete voltages. An aspect of this invention allows for a marked increase in output capability without increasing axial length through the use of magnetic fringing. One aspect of the invention offers an effective means of mounting a skewed stack that eliminates or reduces cogging that is present in a permanent magnet machine without negatively impacting airflow. Another aspect of the invention reduces cogging by radially offsetting opposing magnets of a dual rotor permanent magnet machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: MAGNETIC APPLICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Patent number: 8093772Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Harold C. Scott, Dave E. Williams, Charles Y Lafontaine
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Patent number: 8018108Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. Various aspects of the invention provide a means of significantly increasing the output of permanent magnet alternators while addressing the issues of radial loading applied to a permanent magnet alternator rotor. Another aspect of the invention allows for the production of power in two discrete voltages. An aspect of this invention allows for a marked increase in output capability without increasing axial length through the use of magnetic fringing. One aspect of the invention offers an effective means of mounting a skewed stack that eliminates or reduces cogging that is present in a permanent magnet machine without negatively impacting airflow. Another aspect of the invention reduces cogging by radially offsetting opposing magnets of a dual rotor permanent magnet machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Publication number: 20110025143Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: Harold C. Scott, Dave E. Williams, Charles Y. Lafontaine
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Publication number: 20110025152Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. The apparatus comprises a rotor with permanent magnets, a stator with a winding, and a cooling system. Mechanisms to prevent the rotor magnets from clashing with the stator by minimizing rotor displacement, and absorbing unacceptable rotor displacement are disclosed. The cooling system directs coolant flow into thermal contact with at least one of the winding and magnets, and includes at least one passageway through the stator core. Various open and closed cooling systems are described. Cooling is facilitated by, for example, loosely wrapping the winding end turns, use of an asynchronous airflow source, and/or directing coolant through conduits extending through the stator into thermal contact with the windings.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Patent number: 7863787Abstract: A compact, high power, power conversion apparatus including a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a cylindrical casing, and a predetermined number of permanent magnets disposed on the casing, and is adapted for rotation about the axis of the casing. The stator includes a core and a plurality of sets of conductive windings, each set including a predetermined number of individual conductive windings and associated with an electrical phase. A respective collecting conductor is associated with each set of conductive windings, with each individual conductive winding of the set being electrically connected to the associated collecting conductor. The respective collecting conductors are disposed in a coolant flow path a coolant flow path directing coolant into contact with the stator windings, electrically isolated from each other and spaced apart from each other and from the windings. Collecting conductors in the form of continuous rings and in the form of a plurality of arcs are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott, Davey Earl Williams
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Publication number: 20100253163Abstract: A compact, high power, power conversion apparatus including a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a cylindrical casing, and a predetermined number of permanent magnets disposed on the casing, and is adapted for rotation about the axis of the casing. The stator includes a core and a plurality of sets of conductive windings, each set including a predetermined number of individual conductive windings and associated with an electrical phase. A respective collecting conductor is associated with each set of conductive windings, with each individual conductive winding of the set being electrically connected to the associated collecting conductor. The respective collecting conductors are disposed in a coolant flow path a coolant flow path directing coolant into contact with the stator windings, electrically isolated from each other and spaced apart from each other and from the windings. Collecting conductors in the form of continuous rings and in the form of a plurality of arcs are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott, Davey Earl Williams
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Patent number: 7768166Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. The apparatus includes a rotor with permanent magnets, a stator with a winding, and a cooling system. Mechanisms to prevent the rotor magnets from clashing with the stator by minimizing rotor displacement, and absorbing unacceptable rotor displacement are disclosed. Various open and closed cooling systems are described. Cooling is facilitated by, for example, loosely wrapping the winding end turns, use of an asynchronous airflow source, and/or directing coolant through conduits extending through the stator into thermal contact with the windings.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2005Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Patent number: 7768165Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Harold C. Scott, Dave E. Williams, Charles Y. Lafontaine
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Patent number: 7692341Abstract: A compact, high power, power conversion apparatus including a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a cylindrical casing, and a predetermined number of permanent magnets disposed on the casing, and is adapted for rotation about the axis of the casing. The stator includes a core and a plurality of sets of conductive windings, each set including a predetermined number of individual conductive windings and associated with an electrical phase. A respective collecting conductor is associated with each set of conductive windings, with each individual conductive winding of the set being electrically connected to the associated collecting conductor. The respective collecting conductors are disposed in a coolant flow path a coolant flow path directing coolant into contact with the stator windings, electrically isolated from each other and spaced apart from each other and from the windings. Collecting conductors in the form of continuous rings and in the form of a plurality of arcs are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Publication number: 20090200884Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. Various aspects of the invention provide a means of significantly increasing the output of permanent magnet alternators while addressing the issues of radial loading applied to a permanent magnet alternator rotor. Another aspect of the invention allows for the production of power in two discrete voltages. An aspect of this invention allows for a marked increase in output capability without increasing axial length through the use of magnetic fringing. One aspect of the invention offers an effective means of mounting a skewed stack that eliminates or reduces cogging that is present in a permanent magnet machine without negatively impacting airflow. Another aspect of the invention reduces cogging by radially offsetting opposing magnets of a dual rotor permanent magnet machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott
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Publication number: 20080211330Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Harold C. Scott, Dave E. Williams, Charles Y. Lafontaine
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Patent number: 7327123Abstract: A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Magnetic Applications, Inc.Inventors: Ira S. Faberman, Stewart C. Koch, Charles Y. Lafontaine, Dave E. Williams, Harold C. Scott
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Patent number: 7122923Abstract: An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. The apparatus comprises a rotor with permanent magnets, a stator with a winding, and a cooling system. Mechanisms to prevent the rotor magnets from clashing with the stator by minimizing rotor displacement, and absorbing unacceptable rotor displacement are disclosed. The cooling system directs coolant flow into thermal contact with at least one of the winding and magnets, and includes at least one passageway through the stator core. Various open and closed cooling systems are described. Cooling is facilitated by, for example, loosely wrapping the winding end turns, use of an asynchronous airflow source, and/or directing coolant through conduits extending through the stator into thermal contact with the windings.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Magnetic Applications Inc.Inventors: Charles Y. Lafontaine, Harold C. Scott