Patents by Inventor Kevin Frankforter

Kevin Frankforter 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: 20240128894
    Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Justin Kyle Reed, Ryan Knippel, William D. Butrymowicz, Graham T. Reitz, Matthew Maroon, Baoyun Ge, Daniel Colin Ludois, Aditya Nandakumar Ghule, Serge Kuro, Kevin Frankforter
  • Patent number: 11742779
    Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: C-Motive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Kyle Reed, Ryan Knippel, William D. Butrymowicz, Graham T. Reitz, Matthew Maroon, Baoyun Ge, Daniel Colin Ludois, Aditya Nandakumar Ghule, Serge Kuro, Kevin Frankforter
  • Patent number: 11626781
    Abstract: A capacitive coupler provides high coupling capacitance through the use of an electrical double layer formed on opposite plates of the coupler. The coupler can be independent or provide a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic bearing as well as capacitive coupling and the circulated dielectric can provide for cooling of associated machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Daniel Ludois, Kevin Frankforter
  • Patent number: 11515727
    Abstract: A capacitive coupler provides high coupling capacitance through the use of an electrolyte and insulator formed as an oxide layer on at least one plate of the coupler. The coupler can be independent or provide a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic bearing as well as capacitive coupling, and the circulated dielectric can provide for cooling of associated machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Daniel Ludois, Kevin Frankforter
  • Patent number: 11404976
    Abstract: An electrostatic machine employs a high dielectric fluid comprised of a dielectric liquid with suspended dielectric particles. Electrorheological effects are minimized through small particle sizes and steric coatings on those particles limiting the minimum particle-to-particle distance. Low particle volume densities provide greater torque density with managed reduced viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Daniel Colin Ludois, Daniel Klingenberg, Kevin Frankforter
  • Publication number: 20210320569
    Abstract: A capacitive coupler provides high coupling capacitance through the use of an electrical double layer formed on opposite plates of the coupler. The coupler can be independent or provide a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic bearing as well as capacitive coupling and the circulated dielectric can provide for cooling of associated machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Ludois, Kevin Frankforter
  • Publication number: 20210320525
    Abstract: A capacitive coupler provides high coupling capacitance through the use of an electrolyte and insulator formed as an oxide layer on at least one plate of the coupler. The coupler can be independent or provide a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic bearing as well as capacitive coupling, and the circulated dielectric can provide for cooling of associated machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Ludois, Kevin Frankforter
  • Publication number: 20210242802
    Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis; a rotor electrode and a stator electrode separated by a gap and forming a capacitor, wherein the rotor electrode is rotationally coupled to the shaft; wherein at least a portion of an exposed surface of the rotor electrode comprises a polished surface, and wherein at least a portion of an exposed surface of the stator electrode comprises a polished surface; a housing configured to enclose the rotor electrode, the stator electrode, and at least a portion of the shaft, wherein the stator electrode is rotationally coupled to the housing; and a dielectric fluid disposed between the rotor electrode and the stator electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Kyle Reed, Ryan Knippel, William D. Butrymowicz, Graham T. Reitz, Baoyun Ge, Daniel Colin Ludois, Kevin Frankforter
  • Publication number: 20210234476
    Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a rotor plate and an adjacent stator plate, where the rotor plate or the stator plate includes a coupled bearing. The other one of the rotor plate or the adjacent stator plate includes a race radially aligned with the coupled bearing. The coupled bearing has a width with a first contact point on the first one of the rotor plate or stator plate and a second contact point on the race on the other one of the rotor plate or stator plate, where the coupled bearing is sized to maintain a minimum separation distance between the rotor plate and the stator plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Kyle Reed, Ryan Knippel, William D. Butrymowicz, Graham T. Reitz, Matthew Maroon, Baoyun Ge, Daniel Colin Ludois, Aditya Nandakumar Ghule, Serge Kuro, Paul J. Reckwerdt, Kevin Frankforter
  • Publication number: 20210211069
    Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Kyle Reed, Ryan Knippel, William D. Butrymowicz, Graham T. Reitz, Matthew Maroon, Baoyun Ge, Daniel Colin Ludois, Aditya Nandakumar Ghule, Serge Kuro, Kevin Frankforter
  • Publication number: 20210075344
    Abstract: An electrostatic machine employs a high dielectric fluid comprised of a dielectric liquid with suspended dielectric particles. Electrorheological effects are minimized through small particle sizes and steric coatings on those particles limiting the minimum particle-to-particle distance. Low particle volume densities provide greater torque density with managed reduced viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Colin Ludois, Daniel Klingenberg, Kevin Frankforter