Patents Issued in December 13, 2016
  • Patent number: 9518529
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for correcting an EGR rate determined based on an intake manifold oxygen sensor based on an air-fuel ratio of EGR. The output of the sensor is corrected to compensate for extra fuel in rich EGR or extra air in lean EGR and used to reliably estimate the EGR rate. One or more engine operating parameters are adjusted based on an uncorrected output of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Timothy Joseph Clark, James Alfred Hilditch, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Patent number: 9518530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a hybrid drive system having at least one electric machine and at least one diesel engine. The invention corrects the static torque setpoint Teng,ssp of the diesel engine and is performed in a transient state by constructing a nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission model allowing estimation of the emissions of the diesel engine as a function of torque Teng of the diesel engine; calculating a dynamic NOx emission setpoint NOxsp from the NOx emission model; from the static torque setpoint Teng,ssp determining a dynamic torque setpoint of the diesel engine Tengsp from NOx emission setpoint NOxsp; determining a dynamic torque setpoint of the electric machine Tmotsp as a function of the static torque setpoint Tpwtsp of the drive system and of the dynamic torque setpoint of the diesel engine Tengsp and applying the dynamic torque setpoints to the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Laurent Thibault, Olivier Grondin, Gilles Corde, Carole Querel, Philippe Moulin
  • Patent number: 9518531
    Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine, includes a piston upper part and a piston lower part which are supported via corresponding joining webs, in each case forming a joining zone connected in a material-to-material manner by means of a multi-orbital rotary friction weld. The joining webs and which are in each case directly connected have a wall thickness S1, S2 which is identical as far as possible. The piston encloses a combustion-chamber recess and at least one cooling duct which are made centrally or eccentrically in the piston. The combustion chamber recess and the cooling duct form a circular contour or a contour which deviates from a circular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KS Kolbenschmidt GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gniesmer, Emmerich Ottliczky, Gunter Bayer
  • Patent number: 9518532
    Abstract: A structural frame is provided. The structural frame includes a bottom surface, first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces, the first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces positioned above the bottom surface at a height that is above a centerline of a crankshaft support included in a cylinder block when the structural frame is coupled to the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Palazzolo, Darren Sipila, Steven Poe, Phil Damian Cierpial, Changsheng Gan
  • Patent number: 9518533
    Abstract: An assembly device includes a framework resting on a planar support, a support element mounted movably in rotation relative to the framework, an immobilizing device, and a positioning assembly mounted in rotation on the support element. A front frame of the fixed structure is positioned on the positioning assembly, and the immobilizing device is arranged to immobilize the front frame on the positioning assembly. In particular, the assembly device allows, in the immobilizing position on the positioning assembly, for the front frame to extend transversely to the planar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Xavier Holay, Florine Duquenoy
  • Patent number: 9518534
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a nacelle and a thrust reverser. The nacelle includes a first portion and a second portion that are arranged along an axis. The second portion of the nacelle moves axially relative to the first portion of the nacelle. The thrust reverser includes a blocker door and a linkage that links the blocker door to the first portion of the nacelle. The blocker door is located within and pivotally connected to the second portion of the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis M. Kusel
  • Patent number: 9518535
    Abstract: A reverse thrust device and a system for actuating the reverse thrust device is provided by the present disclosure. The device includes at least one cowl that is translatably mounted in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a nacelle. The actuation system includes an actuation means that is capable of activating translational and rotational movement of the cowl and a panel of a nozzle. The actuation system also includes a downstream locking means for the nozzle and the cowl. The downstream locking means includes at least two reversible states, one of the states being a locked state in which the downstream locking means is suitable for locking the panel of the nozzle into a position for varying the section for outputting the nozzle with the cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Guy Bernard Vauchel, Patrick Gonidec
  • Patent number: 9518536
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine, the device being configured, without an increase in the number of parts, so that stress concentrated on an EGR pipe and on the connection section thereof is dispersed. The upstream EGR pipe extends substantially upward from the first connection section and has four bends provided between the first connection section and the second connection section. Among the four bends, the smallest-angle bend having the smallest bend angle is disposed at a position having a substantially equal distance from both the first connection section and the second connection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noritaka Sekiya, Yusaku Komaki
  • Patent number: 9518537
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid circulation valve, notably for a motor vehicle, comprising a body (2) and a shutoff element (3) able, by rotation of said element (3) with respect to said body (2), to occupy various angular positions, said body (2) having a first (6), a second (7), a third (21) and a fourth (22) inlet/outlet. Said valve is configured so that it: —in a first of said angular positions allows fluid to circulate from the first (6) to the second (7) inlet/outlet, —in a second of said angular positions allows fluid to circulate from the first (6) to the third (21) inlet/outlet, and from the fourth (22) to the second inlet/outlet (7), —in a third of said angular positions allows fluid to circulate from the first (6) to the fourth inlet/outlet (22) and from the third (21) to the second (7) inlet/outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Mathieu Lallemant, Franck Girardon, Patrick Lebrasseur
  • Patent number: 9518538
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine with a fuel vapor recovery system are disclosed. In one example approach, a method for an engine with a fuel vapor recovery system comprises increasing an amount of flow restriction between storage material in a fuel vapor canister while maintaining a vent valve open during a fuel vapor purging event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Russell Randall Pearce
  • Patent number: 9518539
    Abstract: A method, comprising: purging fuel vapors from a fuel vapor canister and/or a fuel vapor bleed element to an engine intake with air routed through a transmission bellhousing. In this way, purge air may be warmed by heat generated in the transmission bellhousing during engine operation, thereby increasing desorption efficiency and reducing bleed emissions. Further, purge air may be pressurized in the transmission bellhousing to allow purging operations irrespective of intake manifold vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Niels Christopher Kragh, Mark W. Peters, Donald Ignasiak, Mike Dong, Dhaval P. Vaishnav
  • Patent number: 9518540
    Abstract: Methods and systems for purging a hydrocarbon trap in an engine intake in a vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises during an engine off condition, operating a pump in a purge line coupled to a fuel vapor canister in an emission control system to deliver fuel stored in a hydrocarbon trap in an intake of the engine to the fuel vapor canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang
  • Patent number: 9518541
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing vacuum via an engine are described. In one example, introduction of a gaseous fuel is ceased in response to a request for the engine to provide vacuum to a vehicle vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9518542
    Abstract: An injection valve is provided for injecting a medium, especially for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber, including: a housing having at least one spray orifice on a discharge side, a solenoid coil, a magneto armature, which is linearly movable by the solenoid coil, a linearly movable valve needle for opening and closing the spray orifice, a first stop on a side of the magneto armature facing away from the discharge side, and a second stop on a side of the magneto armature facing the discharge side, the magneto armature being linearly movable between the first stop and the second stop with respect to the valve needle, and a guide element which is joined to the valve needle, an outer area of the guide element serving as guide for the linear motion of the magneto armature, and the second stop being an integral part of the guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Rogler, Martin Scheffel
  • Patent number: 9518543
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine includes a heat exchanger that has a heat exchanging wall between a liquefied fuel passage and an engine coolant passage. Heated and vaporized fuel flowing out from the liquefied fuel passage of the heat exchanger is supplied to the internal combustion engine. A flow rate of liquefied fuel supplied to the liquefied fuel passage of the heat exchanger is set. A flow rate of engine coolant supplied to the engine coolant passage of the heat exchanger is determined on the basis of a temperature of the engine coolant supplied to the engine coolant passage of the heat exchanger such that nucleate boiling or transition boiling of the liquefied fuel in the set flow rate occurs near a boundary between nucleate boiling and transition boiling in the liquefied fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON SOKEN, INC., AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Kosuge, Susumu Kojima, Rio Shimizu, Tomojiro Sugimoto, Masayuki Akita, Jin Tanaka, Makoto Nakagawa, Masaki Ikeya
  • Patent number: 9518544
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly includes a hollow fuel rail extending along a fuel rail axis and includes at least one outlet for dispensing fuel from the fuel rail. A fuel rail damper is disposed within the fuel rail and extends along a fuel rail axis from a first fuel rail damper end to a second fuel rail damper end for damping pressure pulsations within the fuel rail. A fuel rail damper support is included for positioning the fuel rail damper within the fuel rail. The fuel rail damper support includes an attachment section for fixing the fuel rail damper support to the fuel rail damper and a biasing section that applies a biasing force to prevent axial movement of the fuel rail damper within the fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter E. Bartell, Robert Merkov
  • Patent number: 9518545
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a pressure accumulator, a high-pressure pump, a controllable actuator, and camshaft. The high-pressure pump includes a pump piston movably arranged in a cylinder chamber. The pump piston is supported on the camshaft and thus influences an open volume of the cylinder chamber depending on a rotation of the camshaft. The cylinder chamber is hydraulically coupled to the pressure accumulator to pump the fluid into the pressure accumulator. The actuator drives the camshaft such that the camshaft rotates about the camshaft's longitudinal axis in a specified angular range. The high-pressure pump is controlled prior to an expected motor start such that the high-pressure pump is in a self-priming operating state and the actuator is controlled such that the camshaft rotates about the camshaft longitudinal axis in the specified angular range at least once in a first direction and at least once in an opposite second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Wirkowski, Christian Mey, Christoph Klesse
  • Patent number: 9518546
    Abstract: A pump assembly includes a pump housing provided with a bore within which a pumping plunger is reciprocal along a plunger axis; a pump chamber defined at one end of the bore within which fuel is pressurized to a relatively high level; and an inlet valve housed within the pump housing and in communication with the pump chamber to control the flow of fuel into the pump chamber. A clamp member applies a clamping load to the pump housing, which has at least a component that is aligned with the plunger axis, through a surface of the pump housing located approximately axially above the bore. The clamp member may be secured to the pump housing by a securing member, which may be positioned radially outwards from the bore and extend through or below a plane through the pump chamber and perpendicular to the plunger axis through the pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniel Jeremy Hopley, Joanne Hopley
  • Patent number: 9518547
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a tip in fluid connection with a combustion chamber of the engine and includes an orifice for injecting fuel as a fuel jet. The fuel injector includes a protruding member in fluid connection with the first orifice extending from the tip at a protruding angle. The orifice injects the fuel jet into the first protruding member. The fuel injector includes a plurality of extension members in fluid connection with the protruding member and includes at least, a first extension member and a second extension member. The first and second extension members may extend from the protruding member at extension angles. The fuel jet may be distributed into, at least, a first distributed jet and a second distributed jet when the first fuel jet flows from the protruding member to the first plurality of extension members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Bobby John
  • Patent number: 9518548
    Abstract: A secondary injector that is one of a plurality of injectors provided for each cylinder is arranged in an air cleaner and above an air funnel, and the secondary injector and the air funnel facing the secondary injector are arranged to be inclined such that a base portion of the secondary injector on an outer side in a vehicle width direction is biased to a center side in the vehicle width direction and an injection port thereof is directed to a throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Kawata
  • Patent number: 9518549
    Abstract: In a method for operating a starter of a vehicle, a position of a starter pinion is detected, and an advance of the starter pinion is regulated as a function of the detected position. For example, the advance during the meshing of the starter pinion with a starter ring gear of a drive motor of the vehicle is regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthieu Weinum, Marc Eschenhagen, Benjamin Jensen, Andreas Jesse, Michael Merkle
  • Patent number: 9518550
    Abstract: Since a pinion gear unit which rotates according to the rotation of an output rotation shaft driven by the motor unit, a pushing mechanism which moves the pinion gear unit towards an engagement location of the pinion gear and an engine starting gear, and a bracket which includes a bracket main body unit which supports the motor unit and the pushing mechanism and a nose unit which extends from the bracket main body unit to a side opposite to the motor unit and rotatably bears a tip portion of the output rotation shaft on a side opposite to the motor unit, and which is attached to an engine side are included, a first stopper unit which restricts the movement of the rotation member to the direction of the engine starting gear is provided on the output rotation shaft, a second stopper unit which restricts the movement of the pinion gears to the direction of the engine starting gear by pushing and biasing of the elastic member is provided on the rotation member, and positioning the first stopper unit is positioned
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Abe, Koichiro Kamei, Kazuhiro Odahara, Naohito Kaneda, Daisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9518551
    Abstract: A safety interlock system and method is provided for a laser ignition system. The laser device can be disabled upon receiving an indication that the laser device has been removed from the cylinder. The removal can be inferred based on an estimated distance between the cylinder piston and the laser ignition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 9518552
    Abstract: An ignition circuit for a combustion engine has an ignition coil and a control unit for the coil. The coil and the control unit are included in a common component as an ignition module. The module is supplied with voltage by a generator driven by the engine. A spark plug and the coil form a power circuit which includes a line segment to a reference potential outside the module. A sensor detects data of the engine and the output of the sensor is supplied to the module. The sensor is supplied with voltage via a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit and the power circuit use the line segment as a common connection to the reference potential, so that for a defect of the line segment, a missing connection to the reference potential in the high voltage circuit is recognized via the change of the sensor output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Daeschner, Arno Kinnen, Ernst Buck
  • Patent number: 9518553
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ignition device for an Otto engine, comprising an ignition coil, a printed circuit board, which carries a control circuit with a power transistor, a plastic housing, in which the ignition coil and the printed circuit board are arranged, and a thermal dissipation element, which protrudes through a wall of the plastic housing. In accordance with this disclosure, the printed circuit board carries a cooling body, which is plugged together with the thermal dissipation element to form a thermal bridge, which dissipates thermal losses of the control circuit out from the plastic housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Weissenbacher, Matthias Krause, Siegmund Oberer
  • Patent number: 9518554
    Abstract: An embodiment of a plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine having up to N cylinders includes a power splitter, N phase shifters, N amplifiers, a power combiner network, and up to N radiation devices. The power splitter divides an input RF signal into N divided RF signals. Each phase shifter applies one of multiple pre-determined phase shifts to one of the N divided RF signals to produce N phase shifted RF signals. The N amplifiers amplify the N phase shifted RF signals to produce N amplified, phase shifted RF signals. The power combiner network combines the N amplified, phase shifted RF signals to produce N output RF signals. Each of the radiation devices receives one of the N output RF signals, and produces a plasma discharge when a power level of the output RF signal is sufficiently high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lionel Mongin, Mario M. Bokatius, Pierre-Marie J. Piel
  • Patent number: 9518555
    Abstract: A radiation device and related method are presented. The radiation device includes a body. The body includes a threaded portion configured to engage with a threaded opening in an engine and an open interior volume. The radiation device includes a ground electrode coupled to the body, a substrate disposed within the open interior volume in the body, and a radio frequency generator on the substrate. The radio frequency generator is configured to receive an input signal and, in response to the input signal, generate plasma energy between the body and the ground electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Mario M. Bokatius, Lakshminarayan Viswanathan, David P. Lester, Basim H. Noori, Pierre Marie J. Piel
  • Patent number: 9518556
    Abstract: Provided herein is an oscillating water column type wave energy converting apparatus that is suspended underwater by a mooring device and system thereof, the apparatus and system comprising an damping plate connected to the mooring device; a post with a hollow of which both ends are open, the post extending vertically upwards from the mooring device; a turbine disposed inside the hollow of the post; and a housing of which its lower end is open and which is disposed at an upper portion of the post, wherein the turbine is rotated by air that flows according to changes in water level inside the hollow of the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Seung Kwan Song
    Inventor: Seung Kwan Song
  • Patent number: 9518557
    Abstract: Hydroconveyors are described which utilize magnetic levitation or magnetic suspension to support a collection of conveyor elements. The hydroconveyors are located above or partially within a flowstream such as a river. Additional versions of the hydroconveyors are described which include velocity increasing waterways located upstream of an end of the hydroconveyor. The various hydroconveyors can be used in conjunction with electrical generators to provide electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Patrick Cunnane
  • Patent number: 9518558
    Abstract: Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Myles L. Baker, Cory P. Arendt, Bernard G. Madrid, Sheldon Vilhauer
  • Patent number: 9518559
    Abstract: An output by a wind farm including multiple wind power generation devices is controlled by an output control device. To control the output, (1) a potential estimator estimates an outputtable maximum power amount by each wind power generation device, (2) a control amount determiner determines a control amount of the whole wind farm based on the maximum power amount estimated by the potential estimator, (3) a control timing adjuster adjusts a control timing of the control amount of the whole wind farm, (4) a control amount distributer distributes the control amount having undergone the control timing adjustment based on an available power generation amount of each wind power generation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Hiromasa, Yoko Kosaka, Kenichi Tanomura, Toshimasa Yamada, Yoichi Tone
  • Patent number: 9518560
    Abstract: A method to individually optimize respective pitch angles of blades in a wind turbine. The method allows supplying (102) a modulation signal to modulate a pitch angle of the individual blade being optimized. The method further allows filtering (104) output power of the turbine subject to the modulating frequency to extract a power signal in a frequency spectrum including the modulating frequency. The extracted power signal and a demodulation signal are mixed (106) to generate a signal including a product of the extracted power signal and the demodulation signal. The generated signal is filtered (108) to remove the modulating frequency and extract a gradient signal effective to search a pitch angle estimate conducive to optimize output power of the turbine. The gradient signal may be integrated (110) to cause the gradient signal to converge towards an optimal pitch angle for the individual blade being optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Justin Creaby
  • Patent number: 9518561
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine comprising an aerodynamic rotor that has at least one rotor blade. Said method comprises the steps of operating the wind turbine at an operating point that depends on the wind speed, detecting an operating parameter of the operating point, comparing the detected operating parameter with a predetermined reference quantity, and heating the at least one rotor blade when the detected operating parameter exceeds a predetermined variation from the reference quantity, the operation of the wind turbine being continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang De Boer, Georg Eden, Alfred Beekmann, Gerhard Lenschow
  • Patent number: 9518562
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator includes an outer housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing, stator and rotor assemblies positioned within the outer housing and movable relative to each other, a heat exchanger, and a blower having a rotating plate for generating a fluid flow circuit within the generator for transporting heat from the stator and rotor assemblies to the heat exchanger. An eddy current brake having a rotating member is located within the outer housing and is positioned in the fluid flow circuit such that fluid moving in the flow circuit cools the first rotating member. The blower and the eddy current brake may be integrated, such as by having the rotating plate of the blower serve as the rotating member of the eddy current brake. A wind turbine having such a generator, as well as a method of operating a wind turbine generator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Peter Mongeau
  • Patent number: 9518563
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a hollow structural part (2) configured to form part of a wind turbine (1), said structural part (2) having a first end (2?) and a second end, with an inwardly directed annular flange (70) at said first end (2?), said flange (70) having a plurality of holes (72), at least one alignment device (10) being mounted to said hollow structural part (2), a first connector (22) being connected with said structural part (2) to connect said alignment device (10) to said structural part (2), said alignment device (10) having a guide portion (35) with a protracted guiding surface part (38) extending in the general direction away from said opposite second end and towards a centre line (CL) of said hollow structural part (2), said guiding surface part (38) being for directional guiding of another structural part (5) of said wind turbine (1) during assembly thereof, an elongated bar (40) connected with said guide portion (35), said bar (40) having a portion extending from said botto
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Borge Ollgaard
  • Patent number: 9518564
    Abstract: A wind turbine platform is configured for floating in a body of water and includes a hull defining a hull cavity therein. The hull is formed from reinforced concrete. A tower is configured to mount a wind turbine and is also connected to the hull. An anchor member is connected to the hull and to the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEE
    Inventors: Habib J. Dagher, Anthony M. Viselli, Andrew J. Goupee
  • Patent number: 9518565
    Abstract: An actuator includes the first and the second extendable driver portions. The first extendable driver portion includes an electrolyte layer laminated with electrode layers each including an electroconductive polymer and expands and contracts according to application of a voltage between the electrode layers. The second extendable driver portion includes an electrolyte layer laminated with electrode layers each including an electroconductive polymer and expands and contracts according to application of a voltage between the electrode layers. The first and the second extendable driver portions are arranged between a fixation portion and an application portion. The application portion moves as the first and the second extendable driver portions extend and contract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaoru Someya
  • Patent number: 9518566
    Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus moves a movable element relative to a support structure in two orthogonal directions using a total of four SMA actuator wires each connected at its ends between the movable element and the support structure and extending perpendicular to the primary axis. None of the SMA actuator wires are collinear, but the SMA actuator wires have an arrangement in which they are capable of being selectively driven to move the movable element relative to the support structure to any position in said range of movement without applying any net torque to the movable element in the plane of the two orthogonal directions around the primary axis. Accordingly, it is possible to drive movement whilst balancing the forces to limit torque around the primary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Robin Eddington, James Howarth, Andrew Benjamin David Brown
  • Patent number: 9518567
    Abstract: An adjusting device of an axial piston machine having a displacement volume that is adjusted by a pivoting yoke. The adjusting device has a cylinder, which is radially spaced from and tangential to the yoke pivot axis. A piston communicates with the yoke and is adjusted by hydraulic pressure change. A control arrangement has a position regulating valve with a control piston which can set the hydraulic pressure acting on the piston. A mechanical return can transfer the yoke pivoting position to the control piston. The valve is axially parallel to the cylinder and radially spaced from the yoke pivot axis. The return comprises an axially movable sensing piston and coaxial return spring which are axially adjacent to the valve. The sensing piston abuts a yoke surface that is eccentric with respect to the pivot axis and connected to the control piston by the return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Udo Brehmer, Bernd Schraff, Roland Rehtanz
  • Patent number: 9518568
    Abstract: An inclination angle of a swash plate of a swash plate type variable displacement compressor is rapidly changed to the maximum when electric current is supplied to an electromagnetic solenoid and therefore the compressor is operated at the maximum displacement. When a second valve body is opened, a first valve body is closed; when the second valve body is closed, a valve opening of the first valve body is controlled. Under the circumstance that electric current is supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid and an instruction for operating the compressor at the maximum displacement is issued, when the first valve body is closed, the second valve body is opened. In addition to supply of refrigerant gas from a discharge chamber to a control pressure chamber through a first supply passage, refrigerant gas is supplied from the discharge chamber to the control pressure chamber through a second supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Shinya Yamamoto, Takahiro Suzuki, Kazunari Honda, Hideharu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9518569
    Abstract: An adjustment device for a pivoting cradle of a hydraulic machine, in particular of an axial piston machine, is disclosed. Said adjustment device has an actuating piston to which pressure medium for pivoting the pivoting cradle about a pivoting axis is applied via an actuating pressure space. In order to control the feeding in of pressure medium and the relieving of the actuating pressure space, a control valve is provided. Said control valve has a control piston configured to be adjusted by an electric actuator, wherein the electric actuator is controlled by a control device. In this context, the control device controls the electric actuator as a function of a control difference formed from a setpoint pivoting angle and an actual pivoting angle of the pivoting cradle. The actual pivoting angle of the pivoting cradle is fed back electrically to the control device here.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joern Howind, Carola Diebold, Rolf Springmann
  • Patent number: 9518570
    Abstract: A motor controller includes a motor winding heater function. The motor controller applies a predefined current to one or more of the motor windings without the use of additional dedicated motor winding heater devices. The motor controller serves to control the operation of the motor, while the motor windings serve both as a heater at times and to produce torque at times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Messersmith, Andrew Jaap
  • Patent number: 9518571
    Abstract: A sealed compressor comprises an electric element; a compression element; and a sealed container accommodating the electric element and the compression element; wherein the compression element includes a cylinder block defining a compression chamber; a piston which is reciprocatable inside the compression chamber; and a valve plate disposed to close an opening end of the compression chamber and having a discharge hole which provides communication between inside and outside of the compression chamber; the piston has a first groove on a tip end surface thereof which faces the valve plate, the first groove having a predetermined width and extending from an outer peripheral edge portion of the tip end surface toward a portion of the tip end surface which faces the discharge hole; and a tip end portion of the first groove is positioned in the portion of the tip end surface which faces the discharge hole and is inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Yamaoka, Yasushi Hayashi, Makoto Katayama
  • Patent number: 9518572
    Abstract: A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a casing and a machined spring. An inner back iron assembly is fixed to the machined spring at a middle portion of the machined spring. A driving coil is operable to move the inner back iron assembly in order to reciprocate a piston within a chamber of a cylinder assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Barito, Gregory William Hahn
  • Patent number: 9518573
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor with a gas bearing is configured to support a portion between a cylinder and a piston by the gas bearing and induce a resonating motion of the piston by the use of compression coil springs. Therefore, a proper resonating motion of a vibrating body can be induced by the use of the gas bearing, without using plate springs, and accordingly manufacturing costs and the number of assembly processes can be reduced and the installation direction of the compressor can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Donghan Kim
  • Patent number: 9518574
    Abstract: To prevent oil from being drawn into a suction muffler of a compressor, a suction muffler 7 is disposed in a compressor casing at an inlet of a compression chamber at an upstream side of a refrigerant passage and positioned so that the suction muffler 7 receives oil, in which an upper lid member 71, and a lower lid member 72 having a bottom wall to which refrigerant introducing and leading-out pipes 8, 72d are connected, are fitted and secured by bringing an inner face of a side wall of the member 71 into tight contact with an outer face of a side wall of the member 72, and a protruding portion 72f is provided by forming a lower end of side wall of the member 71 to protrude below a lower face of bottom wall of the member 72, to surround connecting portions of the pipes 8, 72d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahisa Tobe
  • Patent number: 9518575
    Abstract: A vacuum pump for generating an underpressure has a pump chamber (14, 15) with an inlet (143) and an outlet (150), wherein the outlet (150) is equipped with a valve (3). According to the invention, the pump chamber (14, 15) is provided with a pressure sensor (23, 23?, 24). This vacuum pump has a relatively precise and inexpensive vacuum sensor. It is also advantageous that the sensor, being integrated in the pump chamber, is not susceptible to failure and takes up a small amount of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MEDELA HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Armin Felber
  • Patent number: 9518576
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump includes a rotating member operably coupled to a drive. The rotating member includes a plurality of rollers arranged in a circular configuration. A guide member defines a channel configured to direct a peristaltic tube around the rotating member so that the peristaltic tube interfaces with the plurality of rollers. The peristaltic tube is pressed against the plurality of rollers by a retaining shoe. The retaining shoe contains surface irregularities configured to restrict movement of the peristaltic tube. A keeper braces the restraining shoe against the peristaltic tube. The rotating rollers compressing the peristaltic tube against the retaining shoe as the rotating member rotates results in a peristaltic action that produces a nearly pulse free linear flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Wiederin, Gary J. Barret
  • Patent number: 9518577
    Abstract: An electrochemically actuated pump and an electrochemical actuator for use with a pump. The pump includes one of various stroke volume multiplier configurations with the pressure of a pumping fluid assisting actuation of a driving fluid bellows. The electrochemical actuator has at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the first pump housing and at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the second pump housing. Accordingly, the electrochemical actuator selectively pressurizes hydrogen gas within a driving fluid chamber. The actuator may include a membrane electrode assembly including an ion exchange membrane with first and second catalyzed electrodes in contact with opposing sides of the membrane, and first and second hydrogen gas chambers in fluid communication with the first and second electrodes, respectively. A controller may reverse the polarity of a voltage source electrically coupled to the current collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: LYNNTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Roger W. van Boeyen, Jonathan A. Reeh, Mehmet Kesmez, Eric A. Heselmeyer, Jeffrey S. Parkey
  • Patent number: 9518578
    Abstract: A control method and a system for controlling the piston of a resonant linear compressor including at least one electronic control unit, the electronic control unit including at least one observing electronic circuit and at least one control circuit associated to each other. The observing electronic circuit is configured for: measuring at least one electric magnitude of the electric motor; estimating at least one set of electric parameters and at least one set of mechanical parameters of the resonant linear compressor; and estimating and providing at least one control parameter of the system for the control circuit based on the measured electric magnitude measured and on the estimated set of electric and mechanical parameters. The control circuit is configured for actuating the electric motor from the at least one control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.; Fundacao Universidade de Estado de Santa Catarina—UDESC
    Inventors: Paulo Sergio Dainez, José de Oliveira, Ademir Nied