Patents by Inventor Kai Karila

Kai Karila 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: 20230234686
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for controlling propulsion of marine vessel. The propulsion is implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system. The method includes: receiving a wheel operation status from a wheel drive; receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives; receiving a command from a vessel control system; generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Bin Liu, Veli-Pekka Peljo, Peter Fransson, Arne Trangärd, Wei Ji, Winston Garcia-Gabin, Kateryna Mishchenko, Jari Kivelä, Kai Karila, Matti Kivioja
  • Patent number: 10814953
    Abstract: The arrangement includes at least one steering electric motor rotating the propulsion unit via a force transmission arrangement. The force transmission arrangement includes a differential including a first shaft connected to the steering electric motor, a second shaft connected to the propulsion unit, and a third shaft connected to a brake device. The third shaft is locked from rotation when a torque produced by an external force on the propulsion unit is below a threshold value, whereby power is distributed only from the steering electric motor to the propulsion unit or vice a versa. The third shaft is allowed to start rotating when the torque produced by the external force on the propulsion unit exceeds the threshold value, whereby power is distributed from the steering electric motor to the rotation of the propulsion unit and to the brake device or from the rotation of the propulsion unit to the steering electric motor and to the brake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Kai Karila, Jukka Laine, Suvi Westerlund, Hannu Vihtanen, Jukka-Pekka Uusitalo
  • Publication number: 20190135402
    Abstract: The arrangement includes at least one steering electric motor rotating the propulsion unit via a force transmission arrangement. The force transmission arrangement includes a differential including a first shaft connected to the steering electric motor, a second shaft connected to the propulsion unit, and a third shaft connected to a brake device. The third shaft is locked from rotation when a torque produced by an external force on the propulsion unit is below a threshold value, whereby power is distributed only from the steering electric motor to the propulsion unit or vice a versa. The third shaft is allowed to start rotating when the torque produced by the external force on the propulsion unit exceeds the threshold value, whereby power is distributed from the steering electric motor to the rotation of the propulsion unit and to the brake device or from the rotation of the propulsion unit to the steering electric motor and to the brake device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Kai Karila, Jukka Laine, Suvi Westerlund, Hannu Vihtanen, Jukka-Pekka Uusitalo
  • Patent number: 10160529
    Abstract: The propulsion unit comprises a strut having an upper portion with an upper end portion passing through a passage formed between a first outer bottom and a second inner bottom in a vessel. The upper end portion is rotatable supported with a slewing bearing and sealed with a slewing seal. An upper slewing seal prevents lubrication medium leakage from the slewing bearing, whereby access to the upper slewing seal is provided in a radial direction from the interior of the vessel or from the interior of the strut in order to be able to service the upper slewing seal. A lower slewing seal is positioned at a vertical distance below the upper slewing seal and prevents sea water from penetrating into the hull of the vessel, whereby access to the lower slewing seal is provided in a radial direction from the interior of the vessel or from the interior of the strut in order to be able to service the lower slewing seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Kai Karila, Jussi Kiiskilä, Ville Kortelainen, Erkki Ronkainen, Tero Tamminen
  • Publication number: 20170081006
    Abstract: The propulsion unit comprises a strut having an upper portion with an upper end portion passing through a passage formed between a first outer bottom and a second inner bottom in a vessel. The upper end portion is rotatable supported with a slewing bearing and sealed with a slewing seal. An upper slewing seal prevents lubrication medium leakage from the slewing bearing, whereby access to the upper slewing seal is provided in a radial direction from the interior of the vessel or from the interior of the strut in order to be able to service the upper slewing seal. A lower slewing seal is positioned at a vertical distance below the upper slewing seal and prevents sea water from penetrating into the hull of the vessel, whereby access to the lower slewing seal is provided in a radial direction from the interior of the vessel or from the interior of the strut in order to be able to service the lower slewing seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Kai Karila, Jussi Kiiskilä, Ville Kortelainen, Erkki Ronkainen, Tero Tamminen