Patents by Inventor Richard B. Fradella

Richard B. Fradella 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: 20120306418
    Abstract: A low-cost minimal-loss zero-maintenance flywheel battery, to store electric power from a DC power source by conversion to kinetic energy, and regenerate electric power as needed. Its vertical spin-axis rotor assembly is supported axially by repelling annular permanent magnets, and is centered by ceramic ball bearings which have axial preload that prevents vibration and augments axial rotor support. A regenerative multi-pole permanent-magnet motor, controlled by its 2-phase stator current, and connected by power and signal conductors to power interface electronics, is integrated within the flywheel assembly, in a vacuum enclosure supported by a self-leveling structure. Sinusoidal 2-phase stator currents are controlled by high-frequency pulse-width-modulated H-bridge power electronics that draw and regenerate controlled DC current with minimal ripple, responsive to respective 2-phase rotation angle sensors, the DC power voltage, and other settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Publication number: 20120256422
    Abstract: A brushless generator with permanent-magnet multi-pole rotor disks and stator winding disks in their axial magnetic field includes integral electronics to efficiently generate regulated DC current and voltage from mechanical input power over a broad speed range. All power for the electronics is provided by rectifier diodes from its stator windings. Differential amplifiers provide stator voltage feedback signals. Its power rating is scalable, depending on the number of its disks. Having no iron cores and no gears, it incurs no cogging torque, and no gear friction. Integral power control electronics includes high-frequency pulse-width-modulated boost regulation, which provides regulated current at requisite voltage over its broad speed range. A main wind-powered embodiment to produce DC power for a constant voltage DC load over a broad speed range includes signal processing so output power varies according to the third power of speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Patent number: 8242649
    Abstract: A low-cost minimal-loss zero-maintenance flywheel battery, to store electric power from a DC power source by conversion to kinetic energy, and regenerate electric power as needed. Its vertical spin-axis rotor assembly is supported axially by repelling annular permanent magnets, and is centered by ceramic ball bearings which have axial preload that prevents vibration and augments axial rotor support. A regenerative multi-pole permanent-magnet motor, controlled by its 2-phase stator current, and connected by power and signal conductors to power interface electronics, is integrated within the flywheel assembly, in a vacuum enclosure supported by a self-leveling structure. Sinusoidal 2-phase stator currents are controlled by high-frequency pulse-width-modulated H-bridge power electronics that draw and regenerate controlled DC current with minimal ripple, responsive to respective 2-phase rotation angle sensors, the DC power voltage, and other settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Publication number: 20100283252
    Abstract: A brushless generator with permanent-magnet multi-pole rotor disks and coreless stator winding disks includes integral electronics to efficiently generate regulated DC current and voltage from shaft input power over a broad speed range. Its power rating is scalable, and it incurs no cogging torque, or friction from gearing. Integral power control electronics includes high-frequency pulse-width-modulated boost regulation, which provides regulated current at requisite voltage over its broad speed range. A main embodiment to produce DC power at widely variable speeds includes signal processing so output power varies according to the third power of speed. A version for use with vertical-axis wind turbines has a relatively large diameter to facilitate a large number of poles. Combined boost-regulation, zero cogging torque, and no gearing, enable a wide speed range, for better power quality and higher wind energy yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: RICHARD B. FRADELLA
  • Publication number: 20100283340
    Abstract: A low-cost minimal-loss zero-maintenance flywheel battery, to store electric power from a DC power source by conversion to kinetic energy, and regenerate electric power as needed. Its vertical spin-axis rotor assembly is supported axially by repelling annular permanent magnets, and is centered by ceramic ball bearings which have axial preload that prevents vibration and augments axial rotor support. A regenerative multi-pole permanent-magnet motor, controlled by its 2-phase stator current, and connected by power and signal conductors to power interface electronics, is integrated within the flywheel assembly, in a vacuum enclosure supported by a self-leveling structure. Sinusoidal 2-phase stator currents are controlled by high-frequency pulse-width-modulated H-bridge power electronics that draw and regenerate controlled DC current with minimal ripple, responsive to respective 2-phase rotation angle sensors, the DC power voltage, and other settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Patent number: 7646178
    Abstract: A brushless generator with permanent-magnet multi-pole rotor disks and coreless stator winding disks includes integral electronics to efficiently generate regulated DC current and voltage from shaft input power over a broad speed range. Its power rating is scalable, and it incurs no cogging torque, or friction from gearing. Integral power control electronics includes high-frequency pulse-width-modulated boost regulation, which provides regulated current at requisite voltage over its broad speed range. A main embodiment to produce DC power at widely variable speeds includes signal processing so output power varies according to the third power of speed. A version for use with vertical-axis wind turbines has a relatively large diameter to facilitate a large number of poles. Combined boost-regulation, zero cogging torque, and no gearing, enable a wide speed range, for better power quality and higher wind energy yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Patent number: 4520300
    Abstract: A servomechanism regeneratively controls motion by a brushless coreless axial-field motor, exerting torque thru its permanent-magnet disk rotor, resulting from synchronized polyphase sinusoidal stator currents, controlled by a switching controller responsive to input commands and to Hall-effect transducer signals that vary sinusoidally with rotor angle and respectively correspond to stator phases. The controller operates with a dc power source and sink. Its signal processors derive from the transducer signals instantaneous magnitudes and polarities thereof and continuous lagless speed feedback. The instantaneous magnitudes are multiplied by a torque amplitude signal to provide respective synchronized amplitude control signals. Current transformers having primary windings in series with power switching transistors provide current feedback pulses with amplitude proportional to instaneous current in associated stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Patent number: 4085355
    Abstract: A synchronous polyphase motor is driven and regeneratively braked by relatively high-frequency power switching circuits that cause stator currents to vary sinusoidally with rotor position so the resultant magnetic field of the stator rotates with the rotor field at a constant optimum torque angle (leading for forward torque and lagging for reverse torque).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella