Patents by Inventor Niall James Caldwell
Niall James Caldwell 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: 20230118844Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus including an electronically commutated machine having a plurality of working chambers which are controlled on each cycle of working chamber volume to carry out active or inactive cycles of working chamber volume allows only a plurality of defined fractions of cycles to be active cycles to avoid generating frequencies of active cycles which cause low frequency resonances. The demand signal may be quantised into fractions m/n where n is an integer below a threshold selected to avoid repeating patterns of active cycles of more than a cut-off length.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James CALDWELL, Daniil DUMNOV, Matthew GREEN, Stephen LAIRD, Jill MACPHERSON
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Patent number: 11555293Abstract: A prime mover and hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft engaged with the prime mover and having a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine having a low-pressure and a high-pressure valve regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine controlling the low-pressure valves of the group of working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the group of working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, the apparatus further having a controller calculating the demand signal responsive to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or an actuator.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James Caldwell, Jill Macpherson, Matthew Green
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Publication number: 20220356678Abstract: A prime mover and hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft engaged with the prime mover and having a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine having a low-pressure and a high-pressure valve regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine controlling the low-pressure valves of the group of working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the group of working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, the apparatus further having a controller calculating the demand signal responsive to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or an actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Niall James CALDWELL, Jill MACPHERSON, Matthew GREEN
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Patent number: 11454003Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of one or more working chambers of the hydraulic machine and one or more of the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James Caldwell, Jill MacPherson, Matthew Green
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Patent number: 11261862Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising working chambers, a hydraulic circuit between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure and high-pressure valves regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to calculate the demand signal in response to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or actuators.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James Caldwell, Matthew Green, Jill MacPherson
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Publication number: 20220049462Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of one or more working chambers of the hydraulic machine and one or more of the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2019Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Niall James CALDWELL, Jill MACPHERSON, Matthew GREEN
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Patent number: 11162514Abstract: A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets, each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads. A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets connected to one or more of the loads is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignees: Artemis Intelligent Power Ltd., Danfoss Power Solutions ApSInventors: William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Niall James Caldwell, Uwe Bernhard Pascall Stein, Pierre Joly, Michael Richard Fielding
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Patent number: 11084576Abstract: A multi-rotor aerial vehicle comprises at least two rotors, a controller, a power supply having an output shaft, a shaft-driven hydraulic machine coupled to the output shaft and at least two rotor-driving hydraulic machines coupled to respective rotors. At least one of the hydraulic machines is an electronically commutated hydraulic machine in which displacement of hydraulic fluid through each working chamber is regulated by electronically controllable valves, during each cycle of working chamber volume, in phased relationship to cycles of working chamber volume. The controller controls the electronically controllable valves of the electronically commutated hydraulic machines to independently control the rotation of the rotors. The shaft-driven hydraulic machine may be an electronically commutated machine with a plurality of independent outputs, which independently drive the rotor-driving hydraulic machines.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: FLOWCOPTER LTD.Inventor: Niall James Caldwell
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Patent number: 11078934Abstract: A method of operating a hydraulic apparatus comprising a hydraulic circuit region and hydraulic machine which is controlled to displace pulses of fluid of known volume into or out of the hydraulic circuit region, generating pulses of pressure in the hydraulic circuit region and torque in the hydraulic machine shaft. The response of parts of the hydraulic apparatus to these pulses is measured and used to determine properties of the hydraulic apparatus. The response of the pressure in the hydraulic circuit region to pulses at different pressures can be used to measure the hydraulic stiffness of parts of the hydraulic circuit region. It is possible to detect faults and to make measurements useful in subsequent operation of the hydraulic apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James Caldwell, Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein
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Patent number: 10995476Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control at least the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventor: Niall James Caldwell
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Publication number: 20200080551Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising working chambers, a hydraulic circuit between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure and high-pressure valves regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to calculate the demand signal in response to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Niall James CALDWELL, Matthew GREEN, Jill MACPHERSON
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Publication number: 20200080286Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control at least the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventor: Niall James CALDWELL
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Publication number: 20190211849Abstract: A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets, each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads. A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets connected to one or more of the loads is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Niall James Caldwell, Uwe Bernhard Pascall Stein, Pierre Joly, Michael Richard Fielding
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Publication number: 20190071172Abstract: A multi-rotor aerial vehicle comprises at least two rotors, a controller, a power supply having an output shaft, a shaft-driven hydraulic machine coupled to the output shaft and at least two rotor-driving hydraulic machines coupled to respective rotors. At least one of the hydraulic machines is an electronically commutated hydraulic machine in which displacement of hydraulic fluid through each working chamber is regulated by electronically controllable valves, during each cycle of working chamber volume, in phased relationship to cycles of working chamber volume. The controller controls the electronically controllable valves of the electronically commutated hydraulic machines to independently control the rotation of the rotors. The shaft-driven hydraulic machine may be an electronically commutated machine with a plurality of independent outputs, which independently drive the rotor-driving hydraulic machines.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventor: Niall James CALDWELL
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Publication number: 20190048869Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g., cylinders, of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold and a low-pressure fluid manifold, at least one valve linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber, wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and the electronic sequencing means is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Uwe Bernhard Pascal STEIN, Niall James CALDWELL, William Hugh Salvin RAMPEN, Jonathan Paul ALMOND
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Patent number: 10180135Abstract: An injection molding system, water jet cutting machine or other industrial system has a synthetically controlled variable displacement fluid working machine which outputs hydraulic fluid to one or more fluid consumers, such as rams or hydraulic motors, through hydraulically stiff fluid retaining volumes and receives hydraulic fluid back from one or more fluid consumers through the same or other said hydraulically stiff fluid retaining volumes. Individual piston cylinder assemblies can be allocated to different outputs. There may be no valve between the machine and the consumers. A working chamber of the machine can be caused to undergo a motoring cycle to enable the machine to output more power than is received from a motor driving the machine. An accumulator can be used to provide a source of hydraulic compliance. The machine can be controlled using pressure control, flow control, feed forward control or variable power/variable power limit control.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James Caldwell, Jeremy Edmondson, Alasdair Ian Fletcher Robertson, Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein
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Patent number: 10161423Abstract: A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets (11, 12, 13, 14), each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads (15, 16, 18, 20). A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets (11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one or more of the loads (15, 16, 18, 20) is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss ApSInventors: William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Niall James Caldwell, Uwe Bernhard Pascall Stein, Pierre Joly, Michael Richard Fielding
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Patent number: 10094372Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g., cylinders, of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold and a low-pressure fluid manifold, at least one valve linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber, wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and the electronic sequencing means is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein, Niall James Caldwell, William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Jonathan Paul Almond
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Publication number: 20180245609Abstract: A method of operating a hydraulic apparatus comprising a hydraulic circuit region and hydraulic machine which is controlled to displace pulses of fluid of known volume into or out of the hydraulic circuit region, generating pulses of pressure in the hydraulic circuit region and torque in the hydraulic machine shaft. The response of parts of the hydraulic apparatus to these pulses is measured and used to determine properties of the hydraulic apparatus. The response of the pressure in the hydraulic circuit region to pulses at different pressures can be used to measure the hydraulic stiffness of parts of the hydraulic circuit region. It is possible to detect faults and to make measurements useful in subsequent operation of the hydraulic apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Niall James CALDWELL, Uwe Bernhard Pascal STEIN
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Patent number: 9828986Abstract: A method of measuring a property of entrained gas in a hydraulic liquid received by a working chamber of a fluid working motor, wherein the said property is determined from the period of time elapsing between the closure of a first valve to isolate the working chamber and the passive opening of a second valve to bring the working chamber into fluid communication with a manifold. The property may, for example, be related to the concentration of entrained gas in the received hydraulic liquid or the compressibility or bulk modulus of the received hydraulic fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITEDInventors: Niall James Caldwell, Stephen Michael Laird