Patents Issued in September 11, 2018
  • Patent number: 10072604
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine assembly is disclosed including a first cylinder liner containing a pair of first pistons that move toward one another in one mode of operation and away from one another in another mode of operation. The pistons are coupled to first and second crankshafts. Multiple block segments arranged in a side-by-side abutting relationship form the engine block including a first outboard segment, a first inboard segment, a second inboard segment, and a second outboard segment. Tensile members extend through the block segments tying them together as one structural unit. The first and second inboard segments abut one another at a seam and include bores that cooperate to receive the first cylinder liner. The first cylinder liner includes a liner support collar that is received in counter-bores defined by the first and second inboard segments at the seam between the first and second inboard segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: James Mc Clearen, Jeffrey Wayne Klaver, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10072605
    Abstract: A low-temperature cooling water channel formed in the internal combustion engine includes a water jacket that covers at least one portion of a wall surface of an intake port. The intake port has a cooled wall surface that is covered by the water jacket, and a non-cooled wall surface that is not covered by the water jacket. An airflow control valve is provided on an intake-air upstream side of the cooled wall surface. The airflow control valve is configured to be capable of changing a ratio between a flow rate of intake air that flows along the side of the cooled wall surface and a flow rate of intake air that flows along the side of the non-cooled wall surface. The airflow control valve is preferably configured as a tumble control valve (TCV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Kodama, Shintaro Utsumi
  • Patent number: 10072606
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder head (1) with a fire deck (7) on the combustion chamber side, at least one injector sleeve (2) detachably connected to the cylinder head (1) for mounting an injection unit, wherein the injector sleeve (2) is screwed to the fire deck (7) on a fire-deck-side first end (5) via a first screw connection (4), and wherein the injector sleeve (2) comprises in the region of the first end (5) at least one radially protruding first bearing area (9) with a first contact face (10) facing the fire deck (10), which contact face rests on a first counter surface (11) formed by the cylinder head (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Brunner
  • Patent number: 10072607
    Abstract: An annular venturi burner assembly and Stirling engine. The annular venturi burner injects fuel into combustion air flowing axially through a port with an annular cross section. The fuel enters the annular cross-section from the outside diameter. The flow of air through the annular section creates suction that draws the fuel through the ports. A venturi bushing directs the flow of fuel to provide improved and more uniform mixing of fuel and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: New Power Concepts LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael S. Place, Jeremy B. Lund, Prashant Bhat, Michael G. Norris, Andrew A. Schnellinger
  • Patent number: 10072608
    Abstract: The displacer 2d . . . has a gas retention space Hg . . . formed therein. The gas retention space Hg . . . enables a working gas G to be alternately moved between a heating unit 3h side and a cooling unit 3c side of a displacer cylinder 2c . . . by the movement of the displacer 2d . . . . The displacer 2d . . . and the displacer cylinder 2c . . . have an outer circumferential surface 2df and an inner circumferential surface 2ci, respectively, formed into such shapes as to be able to permit the movement of the displacer 2d . . . and inhibit passage of the working gas G. The displacer 2d . . . has a gas passageway 7 which is formed on its outer circumferential surface 2df and includes a gas passage groove that allows the gas retention space Hg to communicate with a working gas inlet/outlet 6 . . . provided in the displacer cylinder 2c . . . and connected to a power cylinder 5c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventors: Hidemi Kurita, Masanori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10072609
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the thrust vectoring systems described herein create variable reverse thrust during a landing event. The reverse thrust may be varied based on manual inputs, dynamically changing operating events, or a landing duty cycle. In various embodiments, the thrust vectoring systems comprise a movable shelf that is capable of adjusting a directing a fluid flow to create a variable reverse thrust which may reduce the risk of foreign object ingestion in the engine at lower ground speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Norman J. James
  • Patent number: 10072610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a feed device for feeding a thrust chamber (10) of a rocket engine (100) with first and second propellants. According to the invention, a first feed circuit (16) of the thrust chamber (10) comprises a turbopump (22) having at least one pump (22a) for pumping the first propellant from a first tank (12), and a turbine (22b) mechanically coupled to said pump (22a). The first feed circuit connects an outlet of the pump to an inlet of the turbine via a heat exchanger (24) configured to heat the first propellant with heat generated by the thrust chamber, in order to actuate the turbine. According to the invention, a second feed circuit (18) is configured to feed the thrust chamber with second propellant from a second tank (14) that is configured to be pressurized. The invention also provides a method of feeding a rocket engine thrust chamber with first and second propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Arianegroup SAS
    Inventors: Jean Michel Sannino, François Lassoudiere, David Hayoun
  • Patent number: 10072611
    Abstract: A gas generator includes an injector that injects a fuel and an oxidizer, and a combustor that mixes and burns the fuel and the oxidizer injected from the injector. The injector includes a plurality of injection elements arranged on a face plate. Each of the injection elements includes unlike-impingement type injection nozzles that inject the fuel and the oxidizer toward a combustion point in front of the face plate, and injection nozzles that inject fuel for dilution to a dilution point DP forward further than the combustion point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Taya, Yasuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10072612
    Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to rocket engine components and rocket engine operational techniques. In one example, a rocket engine propellant injection apparatus is provided that includes a manifold formed into a single body by an additive manufacturing process and comprising a fuel cavity and an oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes one or more propellant feed stubs, the one or more propellant feed stubs protruding from the manifold and formed into the single body of the manifold by the additive manufacturing process, with at least a first stub configured to carry fuel to the fuel cavity and at least a second stub configured to carry oxidizer to the oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes a plurality of injection features formed by apertures in a face of the manifold, ones of the plurality of injection features configured to inject the fuel and the oxidizer for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bostwick, John Garvey, Christopher Anderson, Eric Besnard
  • Patent number: 10072613
    Abstract: A method of forming a flexible structure for a rocket motor assembly comprises forming a polysiloxane composition comprising at least two different silicone materials. A preliminary structure is formed from the polysiloxane composition. The preliminary structure is cured to crosslink at least a portion of different polysiloxane chains of the preliminary structure. A flexible structure for a rocket motor assembly, a flexible assembly for a rocket motor assembly, a moveable thrust nozzle assembly for a rocket motor assembly, and a rocket motor assembly are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
    Inventors: Himansu M. Gajiwala, Steven B. Hall
  • Patent number: 10072614
    Abstract: This invention relates to an anti-adjusting butterfly valve type carburetor, comprising a kind of high speed adjustment oil needle having eccentric hole and a kind of idle adjustment oil needle having eccentric hole, and it also correspondingly discloses a kind of specialized adjustment tool having eccentric convex platform for adjusting the high speed adjustment oil needle and the idle adjustment oil needle. The invention also discloses a kind of high speed adjustment oil needle having eccentric convex platform and a kind of idle adjustment oil needle having eccentric convex platform an it also correspondingly discloses a kind of specialized adjustment tool having eccentric hole for adjusting the high speed adjustment oil needle and the idle adjustment oil needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Meiying Xue
  • Patent number: 10072615
    Abstract: A carburetor with a fuel adjustment tamperproof valve assembly and specialized tools for adjusting the valve assembly. A needle valve is received in a recess in a carburetor body with a passage open to the exterior of the body and a cylindrical surface of the passage. A valve head with a cylindrical exterior surface is received in the passage with a slight clearance between them. The specialized tools are engageable with the head to adjust the valve by rotating it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventor: George M. Pattullo
  • Patent number: 10072616
    Abstract: A check valve that can prevent sticking of a valve body and reliably perform an opening and closing action in a check vale having a simple structure and that does not use biasing means on the valve body. A check valve has support pieces of a valve body protruding in the valve body direction on a circular base seat forming an outflow window in the center inserted in a circular groove where a support member (retainer) is formed between an outflow opening and a valve seat and on an open edge of the outflow window formed in the center of the base seat, and the support pieces of the support member (retainer) that support the valve body have linear or planar support parts on the top portion for leveling at least in a radial direction of the base seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ZAMA JAPAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10072617
    Abstract: A fuel tank containing a fuel and oil mixture is managed to determine if the fuel and oil mixture contains the correct ratio for a motor. The fuel tank containing a fuel and oil mixture is monitored. A fuel to oil ratio is selected for the motor. A combined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is calculated with respect to the fuel to oil ratio, and the temperature of the fuel and oil mixture. The combined viscosity is used to determine a predetermined range of the combined viscosity. The viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture within the fuel tank is measured as a measured viscosity. If the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range, then a user may be alerted that the measured viscosity does not correspond with the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah K. Czaplewski, Joseph Kuczynski, Jason T. Wertz, Jing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10072618
    Abstract: An activated carbon filter apparatus has a housing with an interior space with an activated carbon filter arranged therein. The activated carbon filter is divided into a first region and a second region. An activated carbon filling is in each region. The two regions are divided into different sections by dividing walls. The sections being filled with activated carbon, and the sections of one region and the two sections at the transition between the first region and the second region are connected fluidically to one another by crossflow regions. A void volume is provided in the first region and/or in the second region below an activated carbon filling of one section to receive desorbed hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: DR.ING. H.V.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Andreas Menke
  • Patent number: 10072619
    Abstract: In an apparatus for heating an intake system for an engine of a vehicle by hot water, the vehicle having an engine compartment placed in a front part, in which a radiator is placed on a front side, and the engine and the intake system are placed behind the radiator. The intake system includes an intake passage and a throttle device. A hot water passage is provided to circulate hot water around the throttle device to heat the throttle device, the hot water having been warmed by cooling the engine. In the hot water passage, a hot water control valve is provided. In the hot water control valve, an expanding-contracting member made of shape-memory alloy is provided to control opening and closing of the hot water control valve in response to the internal temperature of the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Minoru Akita, Tsutomu Kuniyoshi
  • Patent number: 10072620
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to determine air flow through an air filter and/or a plurality of air filters. The present invention utilizes a demonstration apparatus to illustrate the differences in air flow and air restriction between a plurality of different air filters and filtration media. The apparatus and system utilizes a common plenum which subjects the plurality of air filters to the same differential pressure. The air flows through a first side of the air filter and is measured on the second side of the air filter by utilizing a wind meter or similar device to gauge the amount of air flow velocity of the second side of the filter. Additionally, the apparatus and system utilizes a display means to illustrate the differing air velocity through the second side of the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, lnc.
    Inventors: John Reedy, Steve Rogers
  • Patent number: 10072621
    Abstract: A circuit housing portion integrally molded above a lid main body portion has a bottom portion, which forms a vent space with the lid main body portion, and a vent hole, which extends through a portion between a protection space and an external space in the side portion. In a terminal, in which an intermediate portion is embedded in a bottom portion to extend between a fuel pump and a drive circuit through the bottom portion, an interface between the bottom portion and the intermediate portion is exposed to a protection space above the vent hole. A liquid-impermeable and gas-permeable membrane is mounted on an outer surface of the side portion to cover the vent hole to allow the fuel vapor to be discharged from the vent hole to the external space and to restrict liquid from entering the vent hole from the external space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, DENSO KOREA AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Fukuoka, Kiyoshi Nagata, Sanghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10072622
    Abstract: When a state where a lowered amount of a detection value of high-pressure side fuel pressure with respect to target fuel pressure is at least equal to a specified lowering determination value at least continues for a specified lowering determination time, a pump high-temperature determination is set “ON”. In the case where the pump high-temperature determination is set “ON”, boost control for increasing pressure of fuel that is supplied from a feed pump to a high-pressure pump (a set value of feed pressure) from a low-pressure set value to a high-pressure set value is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 10072623
    Abstract: A decoupling element, for decoupling a fuel injection valve from a cylinder head, includes a body that, in the mounted state, surrounds a housing of the fuel injection valve. The body is fashioned to include a cylinder-side support region to be supported on the cylinder head, and a valve-side support region for supporting the fuel injection valve. When the fuel injection valve is supported at the valve-side support region, the body is loaded with pressure. Only the cylinder-side support region of the body is fashioned in the shape of a closed ring, which connects segments of the body distributed around a circumference. The decoupling element enables the reduction of the transmission of noise from the fuel injection valve to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Mayer, Martin Scheffel, Martin Maier, Michael Knorpp, Pablo Antonio Napal Jimenez
  • Patent number: 10072624
    Abstract: A starting element (100) for use, for example, in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, includes a piston (310) which divides a first volume (560) that can be filled with a fluid from a second volume (570) that can be filled with a fluid, wherein the piston (310) comprises at least one fluid passage (640) which allows the fluid at least occasionally to pass through the piston (310) from the first volume (560) into the second volume (570) and/or from the second volume (570) into the first volume (560). The at least one fluid passage (640) comprises a passage component part (650) and a receiving opening (660) in the piston (310). The passage component part (650) is inserted into the receiving opening so that at least one passage opening (670) is formed which allows the fluid to pass through at least occasionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Fambach, Peter Frey, Michael Heuler, Reinhard Feldhaus, Horst Zinssmeister
  • Patent number: 10072625
    Abstract: A vehicle start-stop system includes an engine and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the system in a first mode when a first input is selected, and in a second mode when a second input is selected. The controller is further programmed to inhibit engine stop in response to being in the first mode and an evaporator temperature having a first value, and stop the engine in response to being in the second mode and the evaporator temperature having the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Hesketh, Themi Philemon Petridis, Ian Halleron, Christopher Edward Pedlar
  • Patent number: 10072626
    Abstract: Systems and methods for restarting an engine are presented. In one example, an engine may be automatically stopped and started in response to thresholds that may be adjusted as a distance traveled by the vehicle increases. The thresholds may be adjusted responsive to useful life consumed of devices that may participate in automatic engine starting and stopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Eric Michael Rademacher, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
  • Patent number: 10072627
    Abstract: A starting system for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor. A drive plate includes a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch assembly is adapted to drivingly interconnect the drive plate and the crankshaft. The clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race fixed for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. One of the inner and outer races includes circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces. The clutch assembly also includes a cage for positioning the rollers in a circumferentially spaced apart alignment with the cam surfaces and a roller bearing assembly positioned axially offset from the one-way clutch rollers to rotatably support the outer race on the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC.
    Inventors: Sean Steele, David Dorigo, Adrian C. Cioc
  • Patent number: 10072628
    Abstract: A control device for an engine of the invention executes an automatic stop control for stopping stop a rotation of a crank shaft when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied. The device acquires a focused peak value of the engine speed appearing after a time when a rotation direction of the crank shaft first reverses while the automatic stop control has been executed, determines, based on the focused peak value, whether there will be an excessive peak value expected to depart from a predetermined permission range after the focused peak value appears, and executes a starter start control for driving the starter, restarting the fuel supply and igniting the fuel to restart an operation of the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the engine speed is within the predetermined permission range and it has been determined that there will be no excessive peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Susumu Kojima
  • Patent number: 10072629
    Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple fast rising pulses to improve performance efficiency. In one approach, multiple fast rising pulse power is employed to improve fuel efficiency and power of an engine. The system and method can involve a transient plasma plug assembly intended to replace a traditional spark plug. Alternatively, an approach involving a pulse generator and a high voltage pulse carrying ignition cable is contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TRANSIENT PLASMA SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Sanders, Daniel Singleton, Andras Kuthi, Martin A. Gundersen
  • Patent number: 10072630
    Abstract: An ocean wave energy absorbing kite system 200 captures an ocean wave's kinetic energy as a force on a submerged, reciprocating panel 202 that drives the panel back and forth in an oscillating motion. The force applied to the panel is transmitted to a power generator 244 through opposed flexible ropes or lines 214, 224 loaded in tension. Potential energy is captured from the wave as a vertical force when a buoyant volume attached to the energy absorbing panel or kite member 202 rises on a passing ocean wave's peak, and transmits the force through flexible ropes or lines in tension to a power generator. Optionally, the shape of the panel is configurable to limit or restrict absorbed wave energy, thereby preventing damage from larger storm-generated waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas W Bein
  • Patent number: 10072631
    Abstract: A spiral turbine blade having at least one concave compartment that is rotatable by a moving fluid for the generation of electricity is provided. A spiral turbine blade is aligned so that the axis of rotation is generally parallel to the mean direction of a moving fluid. Attached to the intake-facing side of the at least one spiral turbine blade are concave compartments comprised of an intake void, interior space, and exit void. The concave compartments are oriented to capture an additional range of velocity imaginary vectors; specifically those aligned via vortex inducing elements, such as spiral depressions on a conical intake shroud, thereby augmenting the torque induced the spiral turbine blade, and thus improving the conversion efficiency and electrical energy output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Michael John Van Asten, II
  • Patent number: 10072632
    Abstract: A spar cap for a rotor blade of a wind turbine may generally include an assembly of pre-cured laminate plates stacked on one top of the other, with the assembly including an outermost pre-cured plate, an innermost pre-cured plate positioned opposite the outermost pre-cured plate and a plurality of intermediate pre-cured plates stacked directly between the outermost and innermost pre-cured plates. The outermost pre-cured plate may be configured to be positioned adjacent to an inner surface of a body shell of the rotor blade. In addition, the outermost pre-cured plate may define a plate thickness that differs from a plate thickness defined by the innermost pre-cured plate by at least 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron A. Yarbrough, Christopher Daniel Caruso
  • Patent number: 10072633
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a wind turbine which includes a mechanical drive train, an electric generator being mechanically connected to the drive train, and a power converter being electrically connected to the generator is provided. The method comprises (a) determining a frequency of an AC output voltage signal provided by the power converter; (b) recognizing, whether there has been a modification of the determined frequency with respect to a previously determined frequency, which modification is larger than a given threshold; (c) if the modification of the determined frequency is larger than the given threshold, changing a power reference signal for the wind turbine; (d) providing the changed power reference signal to a controller of the wind turbine; and (e) controlling the operation of the wind turbine on the basis of the changed power reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Paul Brian Brogan, Nikolaus Goldenbaum, Jan Thisted
  • Patent number: 10072634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for feeding electrical power into an electrical supply network by means of at least a first and a second wind farm. A first electrical wind farm output is provided by the first wind farm to be fed into the electrical supply network and a second electrical wind farm output is provided by the second wind farm to be fed into the electrical supply network, and a total power output is generated from at least the first and second wind farm output and fed into the electrical supply network, wherein a central control unit for controlling the total power output that is fed in controls the provision of at least the first and second wind farm output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
    Inventor: Kai Busker
  • Patent number: 10072635
    Abstract: A wind turbine including a plurality of blades, a micro inertial measurement unit installed on each blade and configured to sense a plurality of detection parameter signals at corresponding installation positions, and a monitoring system configured to monitor an operating state of the blades. The monitoring system includes a signal processing unit configured to obtain a processing parameter signal through calculation based on the detection parameter signals, a signal analyzing unit configured to analyze each analysis parameter signal, selected from the plurality of detection parameter signals and the processing parameter signal, to obtain a fault estimation signal, used to estimate whether a corresponding blade works in a fault state, and a fault evaluating unit configured to evaluate, based on a plurality of fault estimation signals, whether a corresponding blade fails or a probability that the corresponding blade fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xu Fu, Zhilin Wu, Hai Qiu
  • Patent number: 10072636
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade is described having a lightning protection system wherein a lightning down conductor is conductively coupled to at least one blade root bushing provided at the root end of the blade. The use of the blade root bushing as part of the conductive path of the lightning protection system allows for a structurally sound and reliable connection of an internal down conductor to an external lightning protection system and/or to a suitable ground connection at the blade root end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: LM WP PATENT HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Lars Bo Hansen
  • Patent number: 10072637
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus which can heat water using a Fresnel lens or magnifying glass to focus and concentrate sunlight on water-filled radiator-like tubes which move water, by the water pressure from a water spigot/bib (without pumping), to: (1) move the heated water through tubes to heat any space inside any building, and (2) provide steam to power a steam-powered electricity generator to provide electricity, and charge a battery, during daylight hours, and then use the charged battery to supply electricity during the night hours, and (3) move water, cooled by the subsurface ground, by water pressure from a water spigot/bib, without pumping, into proximity with any air space inside any building to cool the air space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: David William Stauffer
  • Patent number: 10072638
    Abstract: A device for thermal energy harvesting can use pulsed heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ian McKay, Evelyn Wang
  • Patent number: 10072639
    Abstract: A gravity power generation device comprises a geothermal well, a hollow heat conducting post, a power generating unit, a steam guiding unit, a condensing unit and a water distribution unit. By discharging and filling the water alternately and repetitively, a first tank and a second tank of the power generating unit can be continuously movable back and forth between a first and a second power generation positions so that a shaft of the power generating unit can continuously rotate to drive a generator of the power generating unit to generate electric power, thereby the heat energy of the geothermal steam can be converted into the potential energy of the water, and then be converted to electric energy so as to meet the demand for power generation by natural energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Wen-Yen Liu
  • Patent number: 10072640
    Abstract: A driving device of a micropump and a microvalve is provided. The driving device comprises a pump driver controlled by a pump controller, a valve driver controlled by a valve controller, a power supply part, a switch part. The pump driver having a first shape memory alloy wire, a micropump of the first shape memory alloy wire, a wiring part arranged in parallel to the first shape memory alloy wire, and a first selector switch that switches between a state where only the first shape memory alloy wire is energizable and a state where the wiring part is energizable. The valve driver having a plurality of second shape memory alloy wires, a plurality of microvalves of second shape memory alloy wires, and a second selector switch that brings into a state where one of the plurality of second shape memory alloy wires is energizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Asai
  • Patent number: 10072641
    Abstract: A generator has a surface structure relative to a base structure and capable of being positioned within a field of flow. The surface structure also has an electrogenerative portion positioned relative to the surface structure and the base structure. The electrogenerative portion is preferably a piezoelectric or electromagnetic structure, although other types of structures are known within the art. The field of flow exerts forces upon the surface structure which causes surface structure movement relative to the base structure through the electrogenerative portion. This generates electricity which causes movement in the surface structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Sean Nean Hsu
  • Patent number: 10072642
    Abstract: Hydro-carbon nanorings may be used, e.g., in power storage power transmission and transportation. Sufficiently cooled, an externally hydrogen doped carbon nanoring may be used to create a radial dipole containment field for electrons rotating in the nanoring. Such nanorings may transmit DC current with little or no loss. Similarly, an internally hydrogen doped carbon nanoring may be used to create a radial dipole containment field for positrons rotating in the nanoring. Virtually lossless transmission of AC current may be achieved by pairing such streams of electrons and positrons in their respective containment fields. Closed rotation of such streams may also be used to efficiently store large amounts of electrical energy. Finally, selectively accelerating and decelerating pairs of such paired electron and positron streams, which are moving at relativistic speeds, differential momentum may be created to cause physical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Laurence H. Cooke
  • Patent number: 10072643
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump mechanism is powered by steam generated by an internal heater coil heating the pumped water, which moves the diaphragm and an attached piston to pump water through the pump. The heater coil is turned on-and-off using a switch that is timed to the movement of the pump. The water is pumped through a series of one-way rubber valves and reed valves to prevent a back flow of water. The pressure generated by the steam is released when a reed valve located on the diaphragm makes contact with a pin located on the body of the pump, opening the reed valve and allowing the steam to travel through and to condense. The piston and diaphragm are returned to the starting position when the steam pressure is released by a spring attached to the pump shaft. On the return stroke an accumulator refills the diaphragm chamber with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventors: Jennifer Williams, Craig Duda
  • Patent number: 10072644
    Abstract: A modular pump system permits combining multiple discrete pump assemblies in serial and/or parallel configurations to tailor system output to user needs. The assemblies may be combined by hand quickly, without the needs for tools, to permit use in remote areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Kickstart International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Spybey, Martin J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 10072645
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pump including a cylinder, a plunger, a spring seat, a spring, and a stopper. The cylinder defines therein a cylinder hole. The plunger includes a shaft portion, a seat receiver, and a step surface. The spring biases the plunger in a second direction opposite to a first direction through the spring seat. The stopper includes an engaging portion. The engaging portion restricts, by engaging with the step surface, a movable range of the plunger in the second direction. The stopper defines therein an eccentric hole that has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the step surface. The eccentric hole is eccentric with the plunger and opens through a portion of the stopper other than the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Inatani
  • Patent number: 10072646
    Abstract: The invention uses wind turbine and/or solar energy to enhance the efficiency of an underwater and/or underwater in-soil bed of a compressed air energy storage system. The apparatus comprises a wind turbine and/or a photovoltaic panel to drive an onshore compressor, which provides compressed air energy into an underwater pressure vessel. The buoyant rigid-wall pressure vessel will be located and restrained under water or in-soil underwater. The pressure vessel may be horizontal or in vertical configurations as well as parallel or in perpendicular orientation to the shoreline. The pressure vessel may be constructed of high compression strength reinforced concrete or reinforced fiber plastic material that need not have a high thermal capacitance or high thermal conductivity because the exhaust from the pressure vessel feed a near constant air temperature to the turboexpander on the surface via several long vertical small diameter pipes through the 50° to 70° F. water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: EnisEnerGen LLC.
    Inventors: Ben M. Enis, Paul Lieberman
  • Patent number: 10072647
    Abstract: A housing (10) of a compressor (1) according to the present embodiment includes at least one compression chamber (101) that compresses a gas aspirated into the inside thereof and is composed of a metal-resin composite (16) in which a resin member (14) composed of a thermosetting resin composition and a metal member (12) are bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO BAKELITE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shu Okasaka, Shinya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10072648
    Abstract: In a variable displacement type swash plate compressor, a connecting mechanism that connects a movable body and a swash plate includes a first arm having a first guide surface and a second arm having a second guide surface. The first and second arms extend from the movable body toward the swash plate and disposed on opposite sides of an imaginary plane that is defined to extend passing through a top dead center portion and an axis of rotation. The first arm and the second arm have a first opening and a second opening, respectively, that are open in a direction opposite to a direction in which a link pin moves on the first guide surface and the second guide surface with an increase of the inclination angle of the swash plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hiromichi Ogawa, Shinya Yamamoto, Takahiro Suzuki, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Yusuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10072649
    Abstract: An electric pump includes a transmission unit that transmits rotational drive of a motor unit, a pump unit, and a rotary valve unit. The pump unit expands and contracts a pump chamber to draw in a fluid from an inlet and discharge the fluid from an outlet. The rotary valve unit includes a valve body and a valve cover. The valve body is rotated by the rotational drive force transmitted by the transmission unit. The valve cover includes a valve-side inlet that draws in a fluid and a plurality of fluid outlets that discharges the fluid to the exterior. The rotary valve unit is configured to switch the fluid outlets that come into communication with the inlet in accordance with rotational drive of the valve body. The valve body is intermittently driven by an intermittent drive mechanism that converts continuous drive corresponding to the rotational drive force into intermittent drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Sakohira, Kazuhiro Mori, Masaru Kubota, Yosuke Uno, Yuya Inoue, Masashi Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 10072650
    Abstract: A method of displacing fluid includes pulling a pump displacement member through a suction stroke with a pull, the pull configured to transmit only tensile forces to the fluid displacement member. A working fluid disposed in an internal pressure chamber drive the fluid displacement member through a pumping stroke. The pull is prevented from transmitting any compressive forces to the fluid displacement member, such that the pull does not drive the fluid displacement member through the pumping stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley H. Hines, Brian W. Koehn, Jeffrey A. Earles, Paul W. Scheierl, Adam K. Collins
  • Patent number: 10072651
    Abstract: A system for supplementing the electric power needed by a pump jack electric motor, thereby reducing the electric power purchased from the local utility or power supplier. The system comprises a solar photovoltaic system, or other forms of renewable energy, and regenerated power from the electric motor or drive. The system can be both “on-grid” and “off-grid.” Battery banks and capacitor banks may be used to store energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Raptor Lift Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Kavan Graybill
  • Patent number: 10072652
    Abstract: A pump system comprises an electric motor, a pump, a converter and a controller. The electric motor has a rotational output shaft that is rotatable in a first rotational direction and an opposite second rotational direction. The pump has a linearly displaceable input shaft that is movable in a first linear direction and an opposite second linear direction. The converter couples the output shaft to the input shaft such that rotation of the output shaft in the first rotational direction translates the input shaft in the first linear direction, and rotation of the output shaft in the second rotational direction translates the input shaft in the second linear direction. The controller repeatedly reverses rotation of the output shaft to produce reciprocating motion of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Roman, Greg T. Mrozek
  • Patent number: 10072653
    Abstract: A device for conserving power is provided in a piston compressor, in particular a piston-compressor for generating compressed air in a motor vehicle and having a piston delimiting a compression chamber for generating compressed air, which, originating from the ambient environment, arrives in the compression chamber for compression by way of at least one suction connection formed on a cylinder head cover and an intake valve array arranged on a valve plate. For the purpose of conserving power, a pressure-dependently acting idling device is provided for the intake valve array having a dedicated suction lamella, which can be rotated by an actuator between a working position overlapping at least one suction opening and an idling position unblocking, at least in part, the at least one suction opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg Mellar