Abstract: An electronic control unit executes a deposit removal operation of removing a deposit accumulated in an intake port of an internal combustion engine. In the deposit removal operation, the temperature of an EGR gas that is recycled to an intake passage is measured or estimated. Then, a variable valve mechanism is operated such that an intake valve is opened in an expansion stroke or an exhaust stroke and the lift amount of the intake valve becomes larger as the measured or estimated temperature of the EGR gas becomes lower. Further, an external EGR device is operated such that the amount of the EGR gas that is recycled to the intake passage becomes larger as the measured or estimated temperature of the EGR gas becomes lower.

Abstract: Shaft is rotationally driven, and a valve body rotates together with the shafts and has a cylindrical surface on an outer peripheral surface. A housing has a valve chamber in which the valve body is rotatably accommodated, and the valve chamber has an opening opened or closed by the valve body. The outer peripheral surface is provided to be in a non-contact with the housing. The valve body has a valve seal surface for closing the opening by abutting on a predetermined part set in the housing when the opening is fully closed, and the valve seal surface is directed in the circumferential direction. The valve body has a core metal made of a metal, and the shafts are provided on both ends of the core metal, and a valve seal surface is made of a resin.

Abstract: An engine system includes an engine provided with a supercharger provided in an intake passage and an exhaust passage, an LPL-type EGR device, an intake manifold placed immediately upstream of the engine, an electric throttle device placed in the intake passage upstream of the intake manifold, a fresh air inflow passage introducing fresh air into the intake passage downstream of the electric throttle device, and a fresh air inflow valve to regulate the fresh air amount. The intake manifold includes a surge tank and branch pipes branching off from the surge tank. The fresh air inflow passage includes an inlet connected to the intake passage upstream of an outlet port of the EGR passage. A fresh air distribution pipe distributing the fresh air to each of the branch pipes of the intake manifold is provided on an outlet side of the fresh air inflow passage.

Abstract: An intake manifold for an internal combustion engine having at least one runner having a top end, a bottom end, a front side, and a back side defining a hollow interior space wherein the top end has a first height greater than a second height of the bottom end, and a port for receiving air into the hollow interior space, the back side having cylinder holes aligning with cylinder head openings of the internal combustion engine and bolt holes for receiving bolts, each bolt having a bolt head and a bolt thread, the front side having access holes aligning with the bolt holes, such that the intake manifold can be secured to the internal combustion engine with no portion of the bolt thread lying within the hollow interior space of the intake manifold thus preventing obstruction of air circulation through the hollow interior space.

Abstract: An engine device with high reliability and high safety even in use in cold regions, especially in arctic regions at ?20° C. or less, the engine device including: a heating portion (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) configured to increase a temperature in a mixed region where an intake air flowing in a blow-by gas mixed joint (20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) and a blow-by gas introduced from a returning hose (12) are mixed; and/or a pressure regulation portion (121, 125) having a blow-by gas passage in which the blow-by gas from a combustion chamber flows.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing fuel evaporation gas using a closeable path structure, which is configured such that a path through which fuel evaporation gas can flow is narrowed when an engine stops, may include an intake pipe through which air is drawn into the engine, and an openable door disposed to open or close the intake pipe and configured such that, when the engine is operated, the openable door opens the intake pipe, and when the engine is stopped, the openable door closes the intake pipe, wherein a fuel evaporation gas trap configured to collect the fuel evaporation gas may be disposed on an internal wall of a portion of the intake pipe on which the openable door is disposed.

Abstract: A combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap is provided for absorbing evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine. The combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap comprises a duct that supports a hydrocarbon absorbing sheet in an unfolded configuration within a housing. The duct communicates an airstream from an air filter to the air intake duct during operation of the internal combustion engine. An opening in the housing receives a mass airflow sensor into the duct, such that the mass airflow sensor is disposed within the airstream. Guide vanes extending across the duct reduce air turbulence within the airstream passing by the mass airflow sensor. Ports disposed along the duct allow the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions to be drawn into the interior and arrested by the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet when the internal combustion engine is not operating.

Abstract: A fuel pump for an internal combustion engine is provided comprising a barrel including a central bore having a longitudinal axis, a plunger disposed partially in the central bore and movable along the longitudinal axis, a spring retainer, a first coil spring having a proximal end in contact with a first section of the barrel and a distal end in contact with the spring retainer to urge the spring retainer into engagement with a tappet assembly, an extender element coupled to the plunger, and a second coil spring having a proximal end in contact with a second section of the barrel and a distal end in contact with the extender element to urge the plunger toward the spring retainer, wherein the extender element includes a counter-bore to couple the extender element to the plunger.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fuel systems. Some embodiments of the teachings may include a fuel pump comprising: a pump piston having a longitudinal centerline; a camshaft with at least one cam; a roller tappet arranged between the pump piston and the cam; and a tappet body and a roller rotatably held on the roller tappet. The pump piston and the tappet body may be movement-coupled with regard to movements in directions parallel to the piston longitudinal centerline. The roller may be in contact with the cam. The longitudinal centerline may intersect a geometric axis of rotation of the roller. The tappet body defines a tappet body longitudinal centerline parallel to the piston longitudinal centerline. The tappet body longitudinal centerline, in a projected view oriented parallel to the geometric axis of rotation of the roller, runs with a lateral spacing to the piston longitudinal center line.

Abstract: A high-pressure pump has a metering valve and a valve stopper. The stopper has a regulation portion which an end surface of the valve is brought into contact with. An outer diameter of the regulation portion is equal to an outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the valve. A cylindrical sleeve is disposed around the regulation portion. When the end surface of the valve is in contact with the regulation portion, the sleeve covers a tapered surface of the valve.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to high-pressure fuel pumps and the teaching may be applied to pumps in which a pump piston, by means of which a fuel is acted on with a high pressure, is guided in a guiding sleeve. In some embodiments, a high-pressure fuel pump may include: a housing having a housing recess; a pump piston for pressurizing a fuel; and a guiding sleeve arranged in the housing recess and guiding the pump piston. The guiding sleeve is connected to the housing recess with a materially engaging connection.

Abstract: A combustion chamber comprising an upstream end wall, at least one annular wall, at least one fuel injector and at least one seal. The at least one annular wall being secured to the upstream end wall. The upstream end wall having at least one aperture. Each fuel injector being arranged in a corresponding one of the apertures in the upstream end wall and each seal being arranged in a corresponding one of the apertures in the upstream end wall and around the corresponding one of the fuel injectors. Each seal having an inner surface facing the corresponding one of the fuel injectors and an outer surface facing away from the corresponding one of the fuel injectors. Each seal abutting the corresponding one of the fuel injectors. The downstream end of each seal increasing in diameter in a downstream direction and the upstream end of each seal having a radially extending flange.

Abstract: An injector nozzle used with an internal combustion engine for shaping a fluid flow is provided. The nozzle has a body and an orifice plate provided at an outlet of the body. The body and the plate extend symmetrically with respect to a central axis. The plate has an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, which are substantially parallel to each other to define a thickness of the plate. The plate has fluid passageways each having an orifice on the exterior surface. The fluid flow diverges through the fluid passageways to create stream jets. The imaginary extensions the passageways converge to create a focal point and an included angle associated with the focal point.

Abstract: A system for detecting valve seating in a valve system such as a fuel admission valve system includes seat detection circuitry coupled with a low-side driver circuit in solenoid actuator circuitry for the valve system. The seat detection circuitry includes a voltage probe for sensing voltage in the solenoid actuator circuitry, delay circuitry, and a comparator coupled with the delay circuitry and the voltage probe and having an output dependent upon change in the sensed voltage over time. A timing of voltage changes is observed to enable valve seating detection.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning injectors of a direct-injection controlled-ignition engine, while idling, maximum fuel pressure to be injected for cleaning is calculated, by executing for at least one predetermined engine operating speed an iterative loop. During each loop the injected fuel pressure value increases and the injection time corresponding to the increased pressure is determined, selecting for each operating speed a cleaning pressure equal either to the maximum fuel pressure to which an injection time greater than the calibrated minimum injection time determined for the operating speed corresponds or to a maximum limit pressure corresponding to a given calibrated pressure for the engine/injectors system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engine-driven welding-type power supplies with secondary energy generation are disclosed. An example engine-driven welding-type power supply includes a primary energy generation system comprising an internal combustion engine configured to generate mechanical power, a generator configured to convert the mechanical power from the internal combustion engine to electric power, a welding-type power conditioning circuit to convert the electric power to welding-type power, and a secondary energy generation system configured to supplement the mechanical power output by the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a system for starting an engine in which at least two starter assemblies are employed to crank a ring gear of an engine. At least one of the starter assemblies has a “smart relay” configured with an auto-retry function that detects abutment and corrects it by powering the solenoid off and then on again. Advantageously, multiple starter assemblies can be in electrical communication with one another so that click-no-crank events in the starter assemblies can be corrected.

Abstract: A rotor of a starter that employs an SR motor is directly connected to a crank shaft of an engine. The rotor and the crank shaft are set in such a way that when a piston is positioned at a top dead center or the like, salient poles and of the rotor face U-phase poles, so that an output torque of the starter comes to its maximum at a maximum pass-over torque position of the engine. When the engine is stopped, electricity is supplied through U-phase coils, thereby making the salient poles and the U-phase poles stop so as to face each other. In this manner, the piston is stopped at the maximum pass-over torque position. When the engine is started, electricity is supplied to W-phase coils which are adjacent to the U-phase coils, thereby making it possible to overcome a maximum friction torque with maximum outputs.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling vehicle start-up modify a sequence order in which control units of the vehicle are started up to improve reliability. In operation, a processor determines whether a voltage of a low-voltage battery is less than a reference voltage when a start key is turned on, and determines a voltage classification level corresponding to the voltage of the low-voltage battery when the voltage of the low-voltage battery is less than or equal to the reference voltage. The processor then determines a sequence order in which to start up driving units of the vehicle including a power conversion device of the vehicle based on the determined voltage classification level, and controls startup of the vehicle by reflecting the determined sequence order of the power conversion device.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a start of an engine may include the engine, a first motor connected to a crankshaft by a first connecting device to start the engine, a main battery supplying a start power to the first motor, a controller configured to monitor components of a vehicle according to a start command for the engine to generate diagnostic information and generating a reverse charging control command to supply the reverse charging power to the main battery as the determination result of the diagnostic information, and an auxiliary battery supplying the reverse charging power to the main battery according to the reverse charging control command.

Abstract: An ignition system for an engine is disclosed. The ignition system may have an igniter connected to selectively ignite a fuel mixture within the engine, at least one sensor configured to sense operation information of the engine and generate corresponding signals, and a controller in communication with the igniter and the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to cause a first striking of the igniter to ignite the fuel mixture, make a determination that the fuel mixture has been ignited by the igniter based on the signals, and selectively cease striking of the igniter based on the determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pendulum electricity-generating device using natural energy, which is installed on the seashore, and which can generate electric energy stably and efficiently according to the flow on the sea surface. The present invention comprises: a housing that floats on the sea surface using buoyancy; buoyancy wings integrally connected to both sides of the housing so as to rotate the housing according to the floating movement of the sea surface; a power unit installed inside the housing in the longitudinal direction thereof; and a gravity body installed in the longitudinal direction of the power unit so as not to rotate in conformity with rotation of the housing, thereby transferring the rotational force to the power unit according to the floating movement of the housing.

Abstract: A buoyant rotation device has a casing, a rotating cylinder, and multiple floating elements. The casing has a body with an opening and two connecting boards. The rotating cylinder is rotatably mounted in the casing and has an inner tank, an outer tank, multiple dividing panels, and two side panels. A part of the rotating cylinder extends out of the body. The inner tank has a holding shaft. The outer tank is mounted around the inner tank to form an annular space, and has multiple main inlet holes formed through the outer tank and communicating with the annular space. The dividing panels are deposited in the annular space at spaced intervals between the inner tank and the outer tank to form multiple separate spaces not communicating with each other. Each one of the multiple floating elements is deposited in one of the multiple separate spaces of the rotating cylinder.

Abstract: A low-energy and high pressure, hydraulic, pneumatic engine contains: a casing device, two main-cylinder devices, a holder device, two main-crankshaft devices, two recycle-valve devices, two swing-arm devices, two movable-valve devices, two recycle-cylinder devices, two recycle-crankshaft devices, and two umbrella-shaped gear devices. The engine operates without using gasoline or diesel, thus avoiding discharge of harmful substance or gas and pollution. The high pressure gas forces the hydraulic oil without using gasoline or diesel so as to start the engine, and the hydraulic oil recycles and reuses repeatedly, thus obtaining environmental protection. And the high pressure gas forces the hydraulic oil so as to circulate the hydraulic oil, and the communication of the low-energy and high pressure and the low pressure matches with the circulation space of the fluid operation to produce the torque, hence four strokes cycle of intake, compression, combustion and exhaust are not required.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a wind turbine which is designed to start rotating in lower wind speeds than is conventionally possible, the wind turbine comprising a power take off shaft on which a first rotor is mounted, the first rotor having a first diameter, and on which shaft a rotatable augmentor in the form of a second rotor is mounted coaxially of the first rotor, the second rotor having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

Abstract: A blade 20 for a horizontal-axis wind turbine rotor comprises a radially-outer, FIG. 2 energy-extraction portion 32 and a radially-inner, ventilation portion 30. The radially-inner ventilation portion 30 is shaped to ventilate a central area 34 of a wake of the rotor during use such that it contains more kinetic energy compared to the wake from a conventional rotor design. The increased wind flow velocity at the centre 34 of the wake generates additional shear stresses, with corresponding turbulence development, which gives rise to increased wake diffusion.

Abstract: A modular wind turbine blade is described. The modular wind turbine blade comprises first and second blade modules having spar caps embedded within their outer shells. The spar caps taper in thickness resulting in tapered recesses being defined in the outer shells. The tapered recesses in the first and second blade modules are aligned when the modules are placed end-to-end to form a continuous double-tapered channel. A connecting member having a double-tapered structure is bonded in the channel to connect the modules together. The invention also provides a mould for making the blade modules in which the mould surface includes a protruding elongate feature having a tapered portion configured to form the recesses in the outer shells. During layup and moulding of the outer shells, spar caps are supported on top of the tapered portion of the elongate feature.

Abstract: A thrust generating device has a simple structure and can effectively control the magnitude of a Magnus force generated at a cylindrical blade in accordance with the direction of a flow acting on the cylindrical blade. A Magnus-type thrust generating device includes a first member that has a first rotational axis and that can rotate about the first rotational axis; and a second member that is disposed at a rear surface side in an advancement direction of the first member 1. (M?L)/L<2 is satisfied, where L is the distance from the first rotational axis to the most distant part of the surface of the first member and M is the distance from the first rotational axis to the closest part of the surface of the second member in a plane perpendicular to the first rotational axis of the Magnus-type thrust generating device.

Abstract: A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of hubs fixedly attached to the shaft, and a plurality of vanes. The vanes are releasably engaged with each of the plurality of hubs. The vanes disengage from the hubs once the shaft rotates about the axis at a cut-out speed of the wind turbine. In another embodiment, the vanes are releasably engaged with the shaft.

Abstract: A wind driven turbine is capable of generating electricity in a wide range of wind speeds and in any wind direction. The turbine employs sets of vertical blades that rotate a vertical drive shaft which in turn attaches on its lower end to an electricity generator. Each set of vertical blades is pivotally attached to a central support member so that the blades pivot toward each other to a closed position when rotating into the wind to provide less surface area for the wind to exert force against. Blades of each set of vertical blades also pivot away from each other when rotating away from the wind to provide more surface area for the wind to exert force against. The force of the wind on the blades causes them to pivot open and closed and to cause the drive shaft to rotate.

Abstract: A system and a method for control of a wind turbine for prevention of collisions between the rotor and flying objects such as birds, bats, and remotely-piloted aircraft is disclosed. The position and velocity of one or more flying objects is measured. The probability of the positions of the objects when they pass through the surface swept by the rotor blades is estimated. Increasing or decreasing the speed of the wind turbine rotor is performed such that the probability of collision between the rotor blades and the one or more objects is reduced or minimized, while otherwise continuing power production as usual.

Abstract: The invention describes a mechanism to cause an actuator born on a rotating shaft to modulate backwards and forwards independently of the motion of the rotating shaft. This mechanism is then used to realize a controllable-pitch blade fan. The axial modulating mechanism is achieved by mounting a thread on the rotating shaft onto which an axial modulator with a cylindrical cavity having a mating thread is mounted; magnets induce the axial modulator to rotate independently of the shaft's rotation in turn causing the axial modulator to move linearly along the shaft. This mechanism's linearly motion is then used to force blades rotatably mounted on the shaft to rotate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a wind turbine. The wind turbine comprises a power generator configured to generate power dependent on a power request. The control system comprises a ramp rate limiter configured to restrict a rate of change of the power request according to a rate of change limit and configured to determine the rate of change limit dependent on a power difference between the power request and an estimated available wind power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device of a safety system and/or resource and energy-efficiency improvement system for influencing the flow around an aero- or hydrodynamic body, preferably an aerofoil, according to the principle of a back-flow flap, characterized in that: said device, together with the aero- or hydrodynamic body, in particular aerofoil, form at least a partial shift of the delimitation of the flap region by means of the back-flow flap and the delimiting component thereof when the back-flow flap is partially and/or completely raised, thus influencing the trailing edge separation vortex/vortices and/or the flap separation vortex/vortices; and in that the delimitation of the flap region shifts completely up to or beyond the profile trailing edge, or shifts only to a section in front of the profile trailing edge.

Abstract: A wind generation system includes a wind turbine for generating mechanical power, a doubly-fed induction generator for converting the mechanical power to electrical power, a converter for converting the electrical power to a desired electrical power for supplying to a power grid, and a transformer through which a stator of the generator is coupled to the power grid. When a measured rotation speed feedback from the rotor of the generator is lower than an original cut-in rotation speed of the rotor, a cut-in rotation speed of the rotor is lowered by determining a DC link voltage margin of the converter, determining a DC link voltage setpoint of the converter based on the determined DC link voltage margin; and controlling the converter based on the determined DC link voltage setpoint; and/or by increasing a turn ratio of the transformer to reduce a grid voltage from the power grid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprises a rotor connected to a generator, and a rotational speed controller configured to control a speed of the rotor in response to a generator speed reference, and a power controller to control an electric power production, the method comprises the step for receiving a boost command to request a power boost event, so to increase the electrical power production, and imposing a dead band with a dead zone value limit to the rotational speed controller, and wherein the dead band imposes a zero signal to be send to the rotational speed controller, when a speed error is within the dead zone value limit and wherein the dead band imposes an error signal to be send to the rotational speed controller, when a speed error is greater than the dead zone value limit, the error signal being a function of the speed error and the dead zone value limit.

Abstract: Methods for calculating a maximum safe over-rated power demand for a wind turbine operating in non-standard conditions include the steps of determining a value indicative of a risk of exceeding an ultimate design load during operation in a standard operating condition, and establishing a maximum over-rated power demand corresponding to a maximum power that the turbine may produce under the non-standard operating condition without incurring an increased risk of exceeding the ultimate design load, with respect to operation in the standard condition. A method of over-rating a wind turbine, a wind turbine controller, a wind turbine and a wind power plant are also claimed.

Abstract: A method of generating a control schedule for a wind turbine is provided, the control schedule indicating how the turbine maximum power level varies over time, the method comprising: receiving input indicative of a target minimum wind turbine lifetime; determining a value indicative of the current remaining fatigue lifetime of the wind turbine or one or more turbine components, based on measured wind turbine site and/or operating data; and varying a parameter of an initial predefined control schedule that specifies how the turbine maximum power level varies over time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a control system for a wind turbine that is configured to: obtain a 3-dimensional image of at least a portion of a wind turbine blade; recognise a target feature of the wind turbine blade in the obtained image and identify the position of the target feature; and monitor the state of the wind turbine blade and/or control operation of at least one blade in dependence on the identified position of the feature.

Abstract: An inexpensive modular micro wind turbine system is designed for residential as well as commercial and other installations in low-wind and high-wind environments. Simple replaceable components are easy to manufacture, install and sell in small flat packages to facilitate retail distribution (as a single standalone wind turbine module or a cascading series of daisy-chained modules). A substantially enclosed architecture and airfoil design prevents air molecules from easily escaping, providing a number of benefits over existing mast and propeller designs—including enhanced safety, noise reduction, improved energy efficiency and a self-braking effect that causes the rotational speed of the wind turbine to reach an equilibrium before reaching a maximum survival speed, thereby enhancing safety while avoiding the need for an external braking mechanism. An integrated generator (including conducting coils in each stator in proximity to magnets in each rotor) avoids the need for an external generator.

Abstract: A method for moving a wind turbine component (42) relative to a wind turbine (16) having a tower (18) with a door (26) for closing off an opening (90) through the tower (18) includes removably positioning a transport system (40) relative to the wind turbine (16), the transport system (40) having a track (44) and a powered drive device (118), such that a first end (78) of the track (44) is positioned outside the tower (18), a second end (80) of the track (44) is positioned inside the tower (18), and the track (44) extends through the opening (90) in the tower (18). The transport system (40) is configured to facilitate movement of the wind turbine component (42) between an inside of the tower (18) and an outside of the tower (18) through the opening (90). The method further comprises moving the wind turbine component (42) vertically within the tower (18) away from or toward the track (44) using the powered drive device (118) of the transport system (40).

Abstract: A sensor system for a wind turbine, comprising: a blade load sensor; a blade temperature sensor configured to provide a temperature measurement of an associated blade; a load calculation module configured to output a temperature-corrected blade load value; and a processing unit interfaced with the temperature sensor. The processing unit includes a temperature estimator configured to determine an estimated temperature of the wind turbine blade based on at least one wind turbine parameter; and a comparator configured to generate a fault signal based on a comparison between the blade temperature measurement and the estimated blade temperature. The invention also resides in a corresponding method.

Abstract: Described is a system for monitoring deflection of turbine blades of a wind turbine comprising a tower. The system comprises a position detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine comprising a plurality of position detection components each collecting data regarding a field of detection through which a segment of the turbine blades passes, wherein the position detection components are monitoring distinct fields of detection to collect distances of a plurality of segments of each one of the turbine blades travelling through the fields of detection. The system further comprises a deflection controller configured to receive the collected distances and to determine deflection of the turbine blades accordingly. An associated method comprises collecting distances of a plurality of distinct segments of the turbine blades when the turbine blades travel within a plurality of fields of detections, and processing the collected distances to determine clearance between the turbine blades and the tower.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for determining at least one blade state parameter of a wind turbine blade, wherein the system is configured to: obtain blade data relating to the wind turbine blade from a sensor system associated with the wind turbine blade; compare at least one reference model of at least a portion of the wind turbine blade with the blade data; identify a reference model in dependence on the comparison; and determine at least one blade state parameter in dependence on the identified reference model. The blade data may take the form of an image, for example a 3-dimensional measurement such as a point cloud representing at least a portion of the blade.

Abstract: A floating VAWT comprising a wind turbine body having a lower body portion and an upper body portion; at least one blade attached to the upper body portion for converting wind energy to rotation of the wind turbine body; and an energy converter attached to the wind turbine body for converting the rotation of the wind turbine body to electrical energy. The energy converter comprises a first energy converter part, and a second energy converter part to be kept relatively stationary in relation to the first energy converter part. The energy converter is attached to the wind turbine body by means of a first releasable mechanical coupling between the first energy converter part and the lower body portion of the wind turbine body, and a second releasable mechanical coupling between the first energy converter part and the upper body portion of the wind turbine body.

Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine pitch drive unit comprising an electrical energy storage, a resistor, and a cooling fan arranged to provide an air flow over the resistor. The pitch drive unit is configured to discharge the electrical energy storage by: connecting the electrical energy storage to the resistor such that a current from the electrical energy storage flows through the resistor; disconnecting the electrical energy storage from the resistor when a voltage across the electrical energy storage reaches a first pre-determined threshold; and once the voltage has reached the first pre-determined threshold, powering the cooling fan with the electrical energy storage until the voltage reaches a second pre-defined voltage, thereby cooling the resistor.

Abstract: A drive assembly for providing a driving force includes: a first track declined in a first direction through a first declination; a second track, extending in a second direction and arranged to pivot with respect to the first track between a first position in which the track is substantially horizontal and a second position in which the second track is declined in the second direction through a second declination; and a shaft connected to a flywheel and. A first vehicle is arranged to travel along the first track between a first drive location and a first idle location to drive the shaft in a first direction and to cause a second vehicle to travel along the second track between a second idle location and a second drive location; and, the second vehicle is arranged to travel along the second track from the second drive location to the second idle location to cause the shaft to rotate in a second direction and to cause the first vehicle to travel from the first idle location to the first drive location.

Abstract: A wax filled actuator includes a piston in direct contact with the thermally responsive wax material. A cup containing the wax is mechanically secured to a guide that receives and controls axial movement of the piston in response to expansion and contraction of the wax. A seal between the cup and guide prevents leakage of the wax. Another seal surrounds the piston and prevents leakage of the wax around the piston. In a disclosed embodiment, the piston has a cylindrical, polished outside surface that aids in preventing adhesion of the wax to the piston. In a disclosed embodiment, the seal surrounding the piston is a radially compressed annular elastomeric member. The seal surrounding the piston may be disposed between flat, annular wipers. The seal and wipers may be axially retained between the guide and a washer trapped between the cup and guide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an actuator for effectuating a shape memory alloy (SMA). The actuator includes a body including shape memory alloy. The body includes a plurality of segments. The actuator also includes a plurality of heaters that are each configured to maintain a predetermined temperature based on a predetermined resistance of the heater when a voltage is applied to the heater. Each heater of the plurality of heaters is associated with a different segment of the plurality of segments. A segment of the plurality of segments is effectuated in response to increasing a temperature of the heater associated with the segment.

Abstract: A suspension assembly is described. The suspension assembly including a static member or plate; a moving member or plate movable about an x-axis and a y-axis with respect to the static plate; a sensor mounting region on the moving plate; and one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) elements extending between and coupled to the static plate and moving plate. The SMA elements, when driven by a controller, move the moving plate and the sensor mounting region thereon about the x-axis and the y-axis with respect to the static plate.