Patents by Inventor Grant Howard Calverley

Grant Howard Calverley 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: 9759188
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Patent number: 9523982
    Abstract: A flight control system for at least one tethered gyroglider along a flight path consistent with at least one flight mission is configured to fly the gyroglider within a portfolio of winds, managing an interaction between portfolios of at least four envelopes including wind, gyroglider performance, flight and base station. Every flight mission corresponds to at least one flight path associated with a set containing at least one first value and at least one second value. The control system is provided with a learning and library manager comprising a repository having stored sets of first values and associated second values for each flight path. The current first values associated with a current mission are corrected based on predicted or experienced flight paths and measurable outputs to attain the desired flight path. The corrected, experienced values, flight path and measurable output are further stored in the repository for further learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Howard Hastings, David Lang, Grant Howard Calverley
  • Patent number: 9470206
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Patent number: 9470207
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Patent number: 9464624
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Publication number: 20160208780
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Publication number: 20160208777
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Publication number: 20160208779
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Publication number: 20160208778
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Publication number: 20150039161
    Abstract: A flight control system for at least one tethered gyroglider along a flight path consistent with at least one flight mission is configured to fly the gyroglider within a portfolio of winds, managing an interaction between portfolios of at least four envelopes including wind, gyroglider performance, flight and base station. Every flight mission corresponds to at least one flight path associated with a set containing at least one first value and at least one second value. The control system is provided with a learning and library manager comprising a repository having stored sets of first values and associated second values for each flight path. The current first values associated with a current mission are corrected based on predicted or experienced flight paths and measurable outputs to attain the desired flight path. The corrected, experienced values, flight path and measurable output are further stored in the repository for further learning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory Howard Hastings, David Lang, Grant Howard Calverley
  • Patent number: 8791585
    Abstract: A power system comprises a tension harnessing arrangement to harness tension in a tether connected between a tensioning arrangement and storage means. The tension harnessing arrangement of the system comprises at least one first capstan roller arranged in a predetermined configuration. The tether tensioningly abuts at least a portion of the periphery of the first capstan rollers such that there is substantial contact between the tether and the first capstan rollers, thereby engaging the first capstan rollers to generate rotational energy. Alternatively, second capstan rollers engage with the first capstan rollers. At least one converter functionally co-operates with the first capstan rollers, either directly or via the second capstan rollers, for converting the rotational energy to energy in a transmissible form, storage form dissipative form, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Grant Howard Calverley
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley
  • Publication number: 20130154275
    Abstract: A power system comprises a tension harnessing arrangement to harness tension in a tether connected between a tensioning arrangement and storage means. The tension harnessing arrangement of the system comprises at least one first capstan roller arranged in a predetermined configuration. The tether tensioningly abuts at least a portion of the periphery of the first capstan rollers such that there is substantial contact between the tether and the first capstan rollers, thereby engaging the first capstan rollers to generate rotational energy. Alternatively, second capstan rollers engage with the first capstan rollers. At least one converter functionally co-operates with the first capstan rollers, either directly or via the second capstan rollers, for converting the rotational energy to energy in a transmissible form, storage form dissipative form, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Grant Howard Calverley