Abstract: A bus bar including a main tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the main tubular body being made of a first electrically conducting material for carrying an electrical current therealong, and the bus bar further including a hollow connection body longitudinally projecting from the first end of the main tubular body and provided with a mounting surface for receiving an electrical connector thereto, the hollow connection body being made a second electrically conducting material for carrying the electrical current between the electrical connector and the main tubular body.

Abstract: A clamping device for mounting at least one electrical conductor to a structure, including: a first clamping body and a second clamping body mountable together for holding the at least one electrical conductor therebetween, each of the first and second clamping bodies being provided with a clamping face having at least one recess thereon, with the at least one recess of the first and second clamping bodies together forming at least one damping aperture extending through the clamping device when the first and second bodies are secured together; and at least one damping device mountable around the at least one electrical conductor and insertable within the at least one damping aperture for holding in position the at least one electrical conductor, and with the damping device having a predetermined resilience.

Abstract: A flywheel system comprises a flywheel rotor comprising a rotor disc and a rotor shaft and has a longitudinal axis extending centrally through the rotor disc and the rotor shaft. The system further comprises a journal assembly configured to facilitate rotation of the flywheel rotor. The journal assembly comprises a sleeve having an aperture extending therethrough from a first end to a second, opposite end, a rod at least partially disposed within the aperture of the sleeve, and a nut coupled to a portion of the rod. The rod has a length greater than the sleeve such that a portion of the rod extends axially beyond the first end of the sleeve. A method of forming the flywheel comprises coupling the rod to the rotor shaft and pulling the second end of the rod to tension the rod. The nut maintains the tension in the rod when coupled thereto.

Abstract: A flywheel system comprises a flywheel rotor comprising a rotor disc and a rotor shaft and has a longitudinal axis extending centrally through the rotor disc and the rotor shaft. The system further comprises a journal assembly configured to facilitate rotation of the flywheel rotor. The journal assembly comprises a sleeve having an aperture extending therethrough from a first end to a second, opposite end, a rod at least partially disposed within the aperture of the sleeve, and a nut coupled to a portion of the rod. The rod has a length greater than the sleeve such that a portion of the rod extends axially beyond the first end of the sleeve. A method of forming the flywheel comprises coupling the rod to the rotor shaft and pulling the second end of the rod to tension the rod. The nut maintains the tension in the rod when coupled thereto.

Abstract: A slip ring assembly including a plurality conducting disks spaced-apart and stacked mounted along a common rotation axis, each being electrically connectable and fixedly securable to a generator mounted in a rotatable nacelle of a wind turbine so that a rotation of the rotatable nacelle triggers a rotation of the conducting discs; and a plurality of slip ring devices, each being electrically connectable and mechanically securable to a fixed electrical distribution conductor mounted to a fixed pole so as to have a fixed position relative to the fixed pole, and each of the plurality of the slip ring devices having upper and conducting fingers arranged so as to rotatably receive a respective conducting disk therebetween and to provide an electrical connection between the conducting disks and the slip ring device during rotation of the nacelle.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a bus bar to a flexible conductor comprising a tubular conducting body having a first end adapted for lockably receiving an end of the flexible conductor and an opposite second end adapted for mounting a corresponding end of the bus bar therewith. The electrical connector is also provided with at least one resilient element operatively mounted with the second end of the tubular body and the corresponding end of the bus bar for maintaining the bus bar and the tubular body connected together.

Abstract: A solar panel assembly comprising: a base plate extending between a first face and a second face; a plurality of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells mounted on the first face of the base plate; a plurality of optical concentrators each facing a respective one of the CPV cells; each one of the optical concentrators and the respective one of the CPV cells forming a CPV module for converting direct light into electricity; and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells for converting indirect light into the electricity.

Abstract: A bus bar including a main tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the main tubular body being made of a first electrically conducting material for carrying an electrical current therealong, and the bus bar further including a hollow connection body longitudinally projecting from the first end of the main tubular body and provided with a mounting surface for receiving an electrical connector thereto, the hollow connection body being made a second electrically conducting material for carrying the electrical current between the electrical connector and the main tubular body.

Abstract: A clamping device for mounting at least one electrical conductor to a structure, including: a first clamping body and a second clamping body mountable together for holding the at least one electrical conductor therebetween, each of the first and second clamping bodies being provided with a clamping face having at least one recess thereon, with the at least one recess of the first and second clamping bodies together forming at least one damping aperture extending through the clamping device when the first and second bodies are secured together; and at least one damping device mountable around the at least one electrical conductor and insertable within the at least one damping aperture for holding in position the at least one electrical conductor, and with the damping device having a predetermined resilience.

Abstract: A slip ring assembly including a plurality conducting disks spaced-apart and stacked mounted along a common rotation axis, each being electrically connectable and fixedly securable to a generator mounted in a rotatable nacelle of a wind turbine so that a rotation of the rotatable nacelle triggers a rotation of the conducting discs; and a plurality of slip ring devices, each being electrically connectable and mechanically securable to a fixed electrical distribution conductor mounted to a fixed pole so as to have a fixed position relative to the fixed pole, and each of the plurality of the slip ring devices having upper and conducting fingers arranged so as to rotatably receive a respective conducting disk therebetween and to provide an electrical connection between the conducting disks and the slip ring device during rotation of the nacelle.

Abstract: A flywheel system comprises a flywheel rotor comprising a rotor disc and a rotor shaft and has a longitudinal axis extending centrally through the rotor disc and the rotor shaft. The system further comprises a journal assembly configured to facilitate rotation of the flywheel rotor. The journal assembly comprises a sleeve having an aperture extending therethrough from a first end to a second, opposite end, a rod at least partially disposed within the aperture of the sleeve, and a nut coupled to a portion of the rod. The rod has a length greater than the sleeve such that a portion of the rod extends axially beyond the first end of the sleeve. A method of forming the flywheel comprises coupling the rod to the rotor shaft and pulling the second end of the rod to tension the rod. The nut maintains the tension in the rod when coupled thereto.

Abstract: A flywheel system comprises a flywheel rotor comprising a rotor disc and a rotor shaft and has a longitudinal axis extending centrally through the rotor disc and the rotor shaft. The system further comprises a journal assembly configured to facilitate rotation of the flywheel rotor. The journal assembly comprises a sleeve having an aperture extending therethrough from a first end to a second, opposite end, a rod at least partially disposed within the aperture of the sleeve, and a nut coupled to a portion of the rod. The rod has a length greater than the sleeve such that a portion the rod extends axially beyond the first end of the sleeve. A method of forming the flywheel comprises coupling the rod to the rotor shaft and pulling the second end of the rod to tension the rod. The nut maintains the tension in the rod when coupled thereto.

Abstract: A flywheel system comprises a flywheel rotor comprising a rotor disc and a rotor shaft and has a longitudinal axis extending centrally through the rotor disc and the rotor shaft. The system further comprises a journal assembly configured to facilitate rotation of the flywheel rotor. The journal assembly comprises a sleeve having an aperture extending therethrough from a first end to a second, opposite end, a rod at least partially disposed within the aperture of the sleeve, and a nut coupled to a portion of the rod. The rod has a length greater than the sleeve such that a portion the rod extends axially beyond the first end of the sleeve. A method of forming the flywheel comprises coupling the rod to the rotor shaft and pulling the second end of the rod to tension the rod. The nut maintains the tension in the rod when coupled thereto.

Abstract: A solar panel assembly comprising: a base plate extending between a first face and a second face; a plurality of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells mounted on the first face of the base plate; a plurality of optical concentrators each facing a respective one of the CPV cells; each one of the optical concentrators and the respective one of the CPV cells forming a CPV module for converting direct light into electricity; and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells for converting indirect light into the electricity.

Abstract: A user protection system, a machine including a user protection system, and a method of protecting a user of a machine are disclosed. In an embodiment, a user protection system is provided including at least one camera directed to a protected area of the machine; a computing device operably coupled to the at least one camera, a program product stored in a memory of the computing device which when executed, analyzes at least one image of the protected area captured by the camera and transmitted in real time to the computing device, and a relay coupling operably connecting the computing device with a shut-off control on the machine, wherein, in a case in which at least a part of a user is detected at least partially within the protected area, the computing device transmits a command causing the machine to stop.

Abstract: A reversing switch for use in a multi-phase electrical system, and in particular a three phase electrical system has a conductor for linking the input and output of one of the three phases. The reversing switch has two phase switches for reversing polarity. Each phase switch has a pair of stationary contacts and a moveable contact for reversing phase by switching between the stationary contacts. The moveable contacts of each phase switch are moveable in unison by a motor and associated transmission during switching of the reversing switch between first and second modes of operation of opposite polarity.