Patents Issued in March 17, 2020
  • Patent number: 10590878
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically shutting down an engine in response to the engine operating while in an enclosed space to prevent dangers associated with carbon monoxide accumulating in the enclosed space. The engine has an oxygen sensor in its exhaust that is configured to detect oxygen in the exhaust or ambient. A controller can be programmed to shut down the engine based on a determination that the engine is operating in a confined or enclosed space by analyzing a rate of change of the oxygen content in the exhaust or ambient, and compares the rate to a threshold. The shutdown may be commanded if the rate exceeds the threshold. In some embodiments, the shutdown may additionally be in response to a temperature of the ambient air or intake air increasing, which furthers the confidence of the determination that the engine is operating in a confined or enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ELECTROJET GLOBAL, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle E. E. Schwulst, Jesse Beeker
  • Patent number: 10590879
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a variable displacement engine. In one example, a method includes during steady-state vehicle cruising, operating an engine with one or more cylinders of the engine deactivated, commanding the one or more cylinders to reactivate, and indicating cylinder valve actuator degradation responsive to a fuel usage change following the command to reactivate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 10590880
    Abstract: After start-up of an internal combustion engine, a CPU divides a request injection amount, which is used to control the air-fuel ratio to a target value, into an amount of fuel injected by a port injection valve and an amount of fuel injected by a direct injection valve based on rotation speed and a load ratio. When the amount of fuel injected by the port injection valve changes from zero to greater than zero, the CPU decreases the actual fuel injection amount from the divided fuel injection amount then gradually increases to the divided fuel injection amount. When the amount of fuel injected by the port injection valve is gradually increased, the amount of fuel injected by the direct injection valve is increased from the divided fuel injection amount so that the request injection amount of fuel is injected by the port injection valve and the direct injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiko Higuchi, Tomohiro Nakano, Eiji Murase
  • Patent number: 10590881
    Abstract: An estimation device applicable to a combustion system having an internal combustion engine includes a mixing acquisition unit, a combustion amount estimation unit, a region estimation unit, and a timing estimation unit. The mixing acquisition unit acquires a mixing ratio of various components contained in fuel used for combustion in the internal combustion engine. The combustion amount estimation unit estimates a combustion amount of fuel caused by a post combustion generated by injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine by post injection, based on the mixing ratio acquired by the mixing acquisition unit. The region estimation unit estimates a combustion region of the post combustion in the combustion chamber based on the mixing ratio. The timing estimation unit estimates an ignition timing at which ignition occurs in the combustion chamber by the post injection based on the mixing ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsunori Okabayashi, Shinya Hoshi
  • Patent number: 10590882
    Abstract: An injector driver module includes: a first node that is connected to a first terminal of a fuel injector; a first switch configured to, when closed, connect a first potential of a battery to the first node; a second switch configured to, when closed, connect a second potential that is greater than the first potential to the first node; a second node that is connected to a second terminal of the fuel injector; and a third switch configured to, when closed, connect a ground potential to the second node. A switch control module is configured to, starting at a target injecting timing for a fuel injection event of the fuel injector: maintain the third switch closed; and switch the second switch using a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having (i) a duty cycle that is less than 100 percent and (ii) a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Casasso, Tiziana Belvedere, Umberto Ferrara, Luca Chiapusso
  • Patent number: 10590883
    Abstract: A cylinder for an internal combustion engine comprising at least one combustion chamber and a squish area disposed at or around a base of the at least one combustion chamber, wherein the at least one combustion chamber comprises a paraboloidal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Richard William Condon
  • Patent number: 10590884
    Abstract: A piston and method of construction is provided. The piston includes a top part fixed to a bottom part. The top part has an uppermost surface with annular inner and outer upper joining surfaces depending therefrom. The bottom part has a pair of pin bosses with pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis; a pair of upwardly extending annular inner and outer lower joining surfaces and a combustion bowl wall. Inner and outer weld joints fix the inner and outer upper and lower joining surfaces to one another. An annular cooling gallery is formed laterally between the upper and lower joining surfaces. The inner weld joint joining the top part to the bottom part is located within the combustion bowl wall and configured to minimized the compression height of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc
    Inventors: Florin Muscas, Eduardo H. Matsuo
  • Patent number: 10590885
    Abstract: Thrust reversers and methods to provide reverse thrust are disclosed. An example thrust reverser includes a cascade to direct air from an interior volume of an engine nacelle to generate reverse thrust with respect to a direction of travel, and an air extractor to extract a portion of air approaching the cascade from within the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kurt Erik Acheson, Chen Chuck
  • Patent number: 10590886
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aircraft turbojet engine nacelle, the nacelle including a rear section without a lower bifurcation, the rear section including a thrust reversal system, the thrust reversal system including a mobile cowl. The nacelle includes a guide system that translates as one with the mobile cowl, the guide system collaborating with at least one slide that is fixed in relation to the nacelle, the guide system and the slide being arranged near the position referred to as the 6 o'clock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN NACELLES
    Inventors: Olivier Kerbler, Fabrice Henri Emile Metezeau, Patrick Gonidec, Loïc Grall
  • Patent number: 10590887
    Abstract: A hardware configuration and related control strategy is disclosed that accepts an electric power input typical of space flight systems and converts that energy into a spark pulse train with fixed/predetermined performance metrics for the following system parameters: time to first spark, peak breakdown voltage amplitude, spark repetition rate and energy delivered per spark, which have all been optimally chosen to reliably ignite certain fuel mixtures, which have been proven to be beneficial for use in aerospace applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Alphaport, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Miranda, John Heese
  • Patent number: 10590888
    Abstract: A thrust nozzle, in particular thrust nozzle for a rocket engine, with a convergent wall section, a throat section and a divergent wall section. The divergent wall section has a first region adjacent to the throat section, the wall contour of which region corresponds to a truncated ideal nozzle, and the divergent wall section has a second region facing away from the throat section, which region has a wall contour deviating from the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus DS GmbH
    Inventors: Manuel Frey, Thomas Aichner, Philip Martin
  • Patent number: 10590889
    Abstract: A canister that is mounted on a vehicle includes an inflow port, an outflow port, an atmosphere port, a valve, at least one honeycomb body, and a spacer. The inflow port is coupled to a fuel tank in the vehicle. The outflow port is coupled to an intake flow passage of an internal combustion engine in the vehicle. The atmosphere port communicates an interior of the canister with an exterior of the canister. The valve opens and closes the atmosphere port. The honeycomb body is arranged in the most downstream side in a gas flow passage that leads to the atmosphere port from the inflow port, which is the upstream of the valve, enables adsorption and desorption of an evaporated fuel evaporated from the fuel tank, and has a honeycomb configuration. The spacer is arranged between the valve and the honeycomb body and maintains a specific distance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Minezawa, Yosuke Kishida
  • Patent number: 10590890
    Abstract: An inlet system for an internal combustion engine is provided and includes a compressor including a rotor, and an air guide arranged to guide an air flow from an air inlet to at least one cylinder of the engine via the compressor. The inlet system also includes at least two fluid sources, and at least two fluid guiding elements each arranged to guide a fluid from a respective of the fluid sources to the air guide, between the air inlet and an outlet of the compressor, that the fluid guiding elements present a first conduit for guiding a fluid from a first of the fluid sources, and a second conduit for guiding a fluid from a second of the fluid sources, and that a restriction of a flow of the fluid from the first fluid source is provided by a downstream end of the first conduit and the rotor, whereby a downstream end of the second conduit is arranged so that a pressure drop provided by the restriction drives fluid through the second conduit towards the downstream end of the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sergi Yudanov
  • Patent number: 10590891
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a device for activating a substance, which is a flexible sheet that is available regardless of the shape of each of the device that has a substance to be activated inside. The member for activating a substance 1 of the present invention is flexible. The member for activating a substance 1 includes a metal layer 11 containing a metal with a redox potential of 0 V or less or an alloy of a metal with a redox potential of 0 V or less and a radiation generating layer 12 containing a mixture of a natural ore containing a radioactive substance with a radiolucent resin. The dose of radiation generated from the radiation generating layer 12 is from 0.02 ?Sv/h or more to 0.2 ?Sv/h or less. To enhance the flexibility, a radiation shielding layer that shields radiation generated from the radiation generating layer 12 is preferably unformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LANDMASTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Kanamitsu
  • Patent number: 10590892
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating vacuum via a throttle. In one example, a method may comprise rotating the throttle to a first fully closed position to provide vacuum to a first vacuum consumption device and rotating the throttle to a second fully closed position to provide vacuum to a second vacuum consumption device. The method may further include rotating the throttle to a partially closed position to provide vacuum to both the first and second vacuum consumption devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Jianwen James Yi, Brad VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 10590893
    Abstract: The present intake manifold consists of segments including an upper member, a lower member, and a middle member that is interposed between these members to demarcate and form intake passages so that the intake passages are arranged in a straight line, and has first welded portions at which the upper member and the middle member are welded together, and second welded portions at which the middle member and the lower member are welded together. The first welded portions are extended outward from the intake passage formed by the upper member and the middle member, and the second welded portions are extended outward from the intake passage formed by the middle member and the lower member. The middle member is provided with ribs holding the first welded portions and the second welded portions in one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuma Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10590894
    Abstract: A suction filter includes a filter element disposed in a fuel tank and filtering a stored fuel that is a fuel stored in the fuel tank by allowing the stored fuel passing the filter element into an inner space, a dividing wall element disposed to divide the inner space into a first space, into which a filtered fuel that is the fuel filtered by the filter element flows, and a second space, to which an intake port drawing in the filtered fuel is opened, and enclosing the first space together with the filter element and enclosing the second space together with the filter element, and a passage element including an inflow port opened to the second space and an outflow port to which an intake pressure is applied by the intake port and defining a flow passage through which filtered fuel flows from the inflow port toward the outflow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10590895
    Abstract: A work machine includes an engine, a fluid path via which a fuel oil is supplied to the engine, a first filter provided in the fluid path, a pump provided between the engine and the first filter in the fluid path to suck and output the fuel oil, a second filter provided between the engine and the pump in the fluid path, and a third filter provided between the engine and the second filter in the fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsumiya, Takashi Miura, Shintaro Nakabayashi, Shoichi Kawano, Yoshiaki Araki
  • Patent number: 10590896
    Abstract: Various embodiments may include a long injector for fuel injection comprising: a base portion and an extension portion electrically connected to the base portion. An end of the extension portion may include an electrically conductive terminal with contact clips. The contact clips are spaced at a distance from each other or from a side wall of the electrically conductive terminal. An end of the base portion comprises electrical contacts positioned so each of the electrical contacts can slide into a contact clip of the electrically conductive terminal. The electrically conductive terminal includes a latch mechanism. An electrical connection between the base portion and the extension portion is created when the electrical contacts are inserted into the contact clip and held by the latch mechanism. The long injector further comprises an overmolded body encapsulating the electrical connection between the base portion and the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Matteo Soriani
  • Patent number: 10590897
    Abstract: Provided is a high-pressure fuel supply pump capable of fixing a cylinder to a pump body with excellent sealability in a simple structure even at a high fuel pressure. A high-pressure fuel supply pump including a pump body in which a pressurizing chamber is formed, and a cylinder inserted into a hole formed in the pump body and formed in a cylindrical shape, the high-pressure fuel supply pump including: a protrusion disposed at an end portion of the pump body opposite to the pressurizing chamber, formed from an outer peripheral side to an inner peripheral side with respect to an inner peripheral surface opposite to an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, and protruding toward the cylinder, wherein the protrusion is formed so as to protrude to a side opposite to the pressurizing chamber with respect to a flat portion of the end portion of the pump body, and the protrusion is formed so as to support the cylinder from a side opposite to the pressurizing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kitajima, Kenichi Gunji, Shinichirou Enomoto, Masayuki Kobayashi, Masamichi Yagai, Masahiro Moritaka
  • Patent number: 10590898
    Abstract: Examples are directed to a fuel injection device positioned in a cylinder liner. In one example, a cylinder includes a combustion chamber which is jointly formed by a piston crown of a piston, by a cylinder barrel which laterally delimits the combustion chamber, and by a cylinder head. The cylinder includes an injection device positioned in the cylinder barrel for direct introduction of fuel into the combustion chamber, which injection device has at least one opening which, during a course of an injection process, is configured to be activated to introduce fuel into the combustion chamber, the injection device terminating flush, at a combustion chamber side, with the cylinder barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Albert Breuer, Thomas Lorenz, Maziar Khosravi, Helmut Hans Ruhland
  • Patent number: 10590899
    Abstract: Nozzles and method of making the same are disclosed. The disclosed nozzles have at least one nozzle through-hole therein, wherein the at least one nozzle through-hole exhibits a coefficient of discharge, CD, of greater than about 0.50. Fuel injectors containing the nozzle are also disclosed. Methods of making and using nozzles and fuel injectors are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott M. Schnobrich, Barry S. Carpenter, Barbara A. Fipp, James C. Novack, David H. Redinger, Ryan C. Shirk
  • Patent number: 10590900
    Abstract: A pump device for an internal combustion engine, having a high-pressure fuel pump for supplying fuel to a first injection device, having at least one low-pressure inlet, via which the fuel is fed to the high-pressure fuel pump from a low-pressure fuel pump, having at least one low-pressure outlet for conducting the fuel conveyed by the low-pressure fuel pump and fed via the low-pressure inlet to the high-pressure fuel pump out of the high-pressure fuel pump, and having at least one low-pressure port, for conducting fuel conveyed by the low-pressure fuel pump to a second injection device. At least one mixing region mixes the fuel flowing through the low-pressure outlet with fuel fed to the mixing region from the low-pressure fuel pump upstream of the high-pressure fuel pump. The low-pressure port is fluidically connected to the mixing region, and the low-pressure inlet is supplied with fuel from the mixing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Yavuz Kurt, Michael Mauer
  • Patent number: 10590901
    Abstract: A switch device includes an operation button operated by a push operation on an operating surface including an opening, a biometric sensor that includes a reading surface exposed in the opening of the operating surface and reads, during the push operation, biometric information of an operator who touches the reading surface, and a packing arranged between the operation button and the biometric sensor to prevent extraneous matter from entering through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Toshiaki Imai, Ryoji Takahashi, Shuichi Iwata
  • Patent number: 10590902
    Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine may include a support, an electric motor for driving a pinion in rotation, and a solenoid drive configured to axial adjust the pinion between an active position and a passive position. The solenoid drive may include a ferromagnetic plunger stop, a plunger axially adjustable, and a cylindrical coil arrangement surrounding a cylindrical coil interior. The plunger stop may include a cylindrical section projecting into the coil interior. The plunger may be arranged axially opposite the cylindrical section and, when the pinion is in the active position, protruding axially into the coil interior. When the pinion is in the passive position, a face-side plunger end may be arranged axially in a proximal end portion. The cylindrical section may extend into the coil interior such that a face end is closer to the proximal end portion than to a distal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Tadej Florijancic, Sebastjan Kobal
  • Patent number: 10590903
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an ignition system including a spark plug of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method comprises determining an operation value associated with an electrical parameter indicative of an operation of the ignition system during actuation of the spark plug. The method further comprises determining at least one parameter indicative of a current engine operation condition of the internal combustion engine, and determining a current spark plug state of the spark plug based on the at least one engine parameter and the operation value associated with the electrical parameter of the ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Darshit Shah, Heiko Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 10590904
    Abstract: A vane body of a guide vane includes a leading edge, and a trailing edge which is located closer to a runner than the leading edge, when located radially outside the runner. A projection extending in a direction from the trailing edge toward the leading edge is provided on an internal-diameter side blade face of the vane body, at least in any one of one side area of the internal-diameter side blade face and the other side area thereof in an axial direction of a guide vane rotation shaft, the internal-diameter side blade face being disposed on a side of the runner. The projection has a projection rear end of an arcuate shape, which projection rear end is formed to extend along a rotation trajectory which is drawn by the trailing edge when the vane body is rotated about the guide vane rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Madoka Narikawa, Hideyuki Kawajiri, Norio Ohtake, Koichi Kubo, Toshifumi Kurokawa, Nobuaki Noda
  • Patent number: 10590905
    Abstract: The floating apparatus for wave power generation according to the present invention includes; a floating unit floating on a sea surface; an energy unit configured to convert a kinetic energy of the floating unit to an electric or hydraulic energy; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the kinetic energy of the floating unit to the energy unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: INGINE, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Jun Sung, Min Su Cho, Jung Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 10590906
    Abstract: A device transducing fluid dynamic energy into electrical energy, usable as a flow meter or energy harvester, includes a mechanical interaction element with a fluid flow, which is brought into oscillation or vibration by the fluid flow, by way of one or more elastic suspension elements; a magnetic induction electromotive force generator, dynamically connected to the mechanical interaction element by the fluid flow, which crosses an electric conductor, moved in the magnetic field by the oscillating or vibrating motion of the mechanical interaction element, thus generating an induced current in the conductor; and a collection unit for the electrical signal generated by induction. The mechanical interaction element is suspended to oscillate around an axis transversal to the flow direction and corresponding to a transversal axis half way along the mechanical interaction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventors: Enrico Espinosa, Ferdinando Basile, Paola Demartini, Lorenzo Ricotti
  • Patent number: 10590907
    Abstract: A device for retrieving energy of flowing water for the riverside is disclosed. The device uses a rotating disk to respectively connect with a first blade and a second blade through two rotating bodies. The first blade and the second blade are respectively located at the first position of an upstream side and the second position of a downstream side. Water pushes the first blade under the surface of water to swing from the first position to the second position, thereby rotating the rotating disk by a rotating distance. Thus, the second blade originally arranged over the surface of water reversely swings to the first position. Then, the second blade sinks in the water. Water pushes the second blade to swing to the second position, and the first blade rises and leaves the surface of water to swing to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jung-Hsuan Chen, Chin-Guo Kuo, Chao-Fu Shu
  • Patent number: 10590908
    Abstract: A variable-displacement hydrostatic axial piston motor of bent-axis construction includes a drive shaft, a cylinder drum that pivots in a pivoting plane, and a one-piece port plate nearly symmetrical with a central plane and with two working ports. The motor further includes an adjusting device with an adjusting piston arranged in the port plate, a control valve arranged on the port plate and with a control valve piston, a feedback spring arranged in the port plate and clamped between the adjusting piston and the control valve piston, a counterbalance valve with a counterbalance spool, and two secondary pressure-limiting valves inserted as cartridge-type inserts into the port plate. The counterbalance spool is accommodated in a valve bore in the port plate. The two working ports are situated on the port plate opposite to the first side. The two secondary pressure-limiting valves are arranged on the same side as the port surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Bidell, Marcus Herrmann, Thomas Abenstein, Walter Jauernig
  • Patent number: 10590909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade or a part of a wind turbine blade. The method comprises arranging at least one of layer of uncured resin pre-impregnated fibres, called prepregs, and at least one layer of cured fibre reinforced resin in an at least partly overlaying relationship, and curing the resin of the at least one layer comprising uncured resin. The at least one layer of cured fibre reinforced resin is assembled with at least one layer of uncured resin-preimpregnated fibres prior to being placed on a moulding surface. The method may e.g. be used to manufacture a wind turbine blade shell member or a wind turbine blade spar member. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade shell member or a wind turbine blade spar member manufactured by such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Anton Bech
  • Patent number: 10590910
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade, comprising: a shell with an aerodynamic profile with at least one reinforcing rod having a largest cross section between the first and the second end of the rod and extending in the internal space with its longitudinal direction between the suction side and the pressure side. The shell has a first through hole having a smallest cross section being larger than the largest cross section of the rod. The rod has a first head having a cross section larger than the smallest cross section of the first through hole and is attached to the outer surface of the shell and where the second end of the rod is attached to a second through hole in the shell by a screw having a second head resting against the outer surface of the shell, and a shank extending through the second through hole in the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BLADENA ApS
    Inventor: Find Mølholt Jensen
  • Patent number: 10590911
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiments herein provide a bridle for use with a rigid wing having two opposing ends, the bridle having a fixed bridle member attached to a bottom surface of the wing, a pair of connection points positioned on the fixed bridle and located at distance D vertically below the bottom surface of the wing, a rolling bridle member with a pair of opposing ends, where each opposing end is attached at one of the connection points, and a pulley with a sheave that travels along the rolling bridle member. In some embodiments, a motor is mechanically connected with the sheave. In some embodiments, the distance D is optimized for a preferred roll moment as the wing rolls through various angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: WINDLIFT LLC
    Inventors: Mark Aull, Andrew Stough
  • Patent number: 10590912
    Abstract: The invention presents a method for operating a horizontal axis wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a tower and a rotor with at least one rotor blade, the rotor being connected to the tower, and being adapted to drive a generator connected to a utility grid, wherein a pitch angle of each rotor blade is adjustable, the method comprising detecting, when the wind turbine is in an idling power producing situation in relation to the utility grid, a tower oscillation, and controlling, when the wind turbine is in the idling power producing situation, the pitch angle of the at least one rotor blade so as to produce aerodynamic forces counteracting the detected tower oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Fabio Caponetti, Martin Brødsgaard, Thomas Krüger
  • Patent number: 10590913
    Abstract: The invention relates to wind turbines with variable rotor blades whose pitch angle can be adjusted, wherein an adjustment unit for adjusting the pitch angle of a wind turbine rotor blade with a pivot bearing comprising at least two coaxial bearing rings that are rotatable against each other, at least one adjustment actuator for rotating the two bearing rings against each other, and a supply unit for supplying the adjustment actuator with energy, wherein the at least one adjustment actuator and the supply unit are disposed on opposite sides on a plate-shaped adjustment drive carrier part which is directly or indirectly rotatably connected with one of the bearing rings and comprises a rotatable support bearing for the rotatable support of the adjustment actuator on the carrier part. The supply unit is connected with the adjustment actuator by at least one pressurized-media channel passing through the support bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Gaile, Jan Fesenmayr, Stefan Cersowsky, Thomas Schulze
  • Patent number: 10590914
    Abstract: A method, converter arrangement, and controller are disclosed for connecting an output of a converter with an electrical grid to control inrush currents into a grid filter assembly connected with the output of the converter, the electrical grid carrying an alternating current (AC) signal having one or more phases. The method includes determining a voltage of the AC signal and operating, after pre-charging a direct current (DC) link of the converter to a predetermined voltage, the converter using open-loop voltage control to produce an AC output signal that substantially matches the AC signal of the electrical grid. The open-loop voltage control is based on the determined voltage of the AC signal. The method further includes closing, after a predetermined amount of time of operating the converter using the open-loop voltage control, a switching device to thereby connect the output of the converter with the electrical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Tusitha Abeyasekera, Duy Duc Doan, Gert Karmisholt Andersen, Lars Helle, Søren Andersen, Tune Pedersen, John Godsk Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10590915
    Abstract: A condition monitoring system for a wind turbine generator includes an orientation sensor installed in a nacelle and configured to detect an orientation of the nacelle and a condition monitoring unit configured to receive an output from the orientation sensor and perform at least any one of recording, analysis, or transmission of a signal. The condition monitoring unit preferably detects, based on the output from the orientation sensor, the movement along the rotation direction of the nacelle associated with a torsional oscillation of the tower. The orientation sensor can also detect slow directional fluctuations that are difficult to detect using an acceleration sensor or the like, and thus, can satisfactorily detect the rotation of the nacelle associated with the torsional oscillation of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10590916
    Abstract: A cooling system includes one or more heat generating components located within an enclosure. A first conduit is thermally connected to one or more of the heat generating components, and the first conduit is fluidly connected to a distribution manifold and a condensing unit. The condensing unit is located external to the enclosure and above the heat generating components. The distribuition manifold is located below the heat generating components. A second conduit is fluidly connected to the condensing unit and the distribution manifold. The cooling system includes a two-phase cooling medium. The first conduit, condensing unit, second conduit and distribution manifold form a loop in which the cooling medium circulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alistair Martin Waddell, Mark Aaron Chan, Mikel Andonegi Aldaz
  • Patent number: 10590917
    Abstract: A coil spring unit includes a coil spring; and a metal plate supporting the coil spring, the metal plate including a plurality of supporting portions cooperative with each other to support the coil spring, wherein the supporting portions are provided by bending the metal plate at bending lines and have supporting surfaces substantially perpendicular to the bending lines, respectively, and wherein the supporting surfaces are substantially parallel with outside tangential lines of the coil spring and support the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Kase
  • Patent number: 10590918
    Abstract: An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: The Abell Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry R. Cole
  • Patent number: 10590919
    Abstract: System (300, 400) and methods (500) for testing a reaction thruster (100) in a vacuum environment. The methods comprise: disposing the reaction thruster in a vacuum chamber which is at least partially connected to earth ground; removing at least one gas from the vacuum chamber to provide the vacuum environment; operating the reaction thruster so as to create a beam of electrons; and/or electrically isolating the electrons of the beam from at least one electrically conductive surface of the vacuum chamber. The electrical isolation can be achieved by applying an electrical bias voltage to the beam via an electrode. The electrode may comprise a conductive object disposed in the vacuum chamber and/or at least a portion of a vacuum chamber wall. In all cases, the electrode is electrically isolated from a portion of the vacuum chamber that is connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventors: David Q. King, Peter Y. Peterson, Justin M. Pucci
  • Patent number: 10590920
    Abstract: A pump device (1) is provided comprising: a shaft (2), rotor means (3a, 3b) fixed to said shaft (2) in rotational direction, said rotor means (3a, 3b) having pressure chambers (5a, 5b) the volume of which varying during a rotation of said rotor means (3a, 3b), port plate means (15a, 15b) having a through going opening (16a, 16b) for each of said pressure chambers (5a, 5b) and being connected to said rotor means (3a, 3b) in rotational direction, and valve plate means (17a, 17b) cooperating with said port plate means (15a, 15b). It is intended to pressurize a high volume of fluid, in particular water, within a limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Welm Friedrichsen, Lars Martensen, Frank Holm Iversen, Palle Olsen, Stig Kildegaard Andersen
  • Patent number: 10590921
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply device, including at least a first housing section forming a reservoir for a lubricant, a second housing section including a feed pump for feeding the lubricant from the reservoir to a lubricant outlet and a motor driving at least the feed pump, the motor being arranged in the first housing section forming the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SKF Lubrication Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Kreutzkaemper, Jan Ruiter, Andreas Schoenfeld
  • Patent number: 10590922
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston compressor (100) includes a crank casing (10). The reciprocating piston compressor (100) includes a crankshaft (11), a piston rod (12) and a crosshead (13). The crosshead (13) and the piston (23) are actively connected to one another by way of a connecting rod (24). The connecting rod (24) is fixedly restrained on the crosshead (13) and on the piston (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HAUG SAUER KOMPRESSOREN AG
    Inventor: Beat Frefel
  • Patent number: 10590923
    Abstract: A reciprocating pump capable of reducing its overall size by suppressing the size of an entire drive unit. A plurality of piston parts move in the same direction and draw fluid into a plurality of pump chambers and discharge the fluid. The pump chambers are adjacent to each other. A motor has a drive shaft between the centers of piston parts located at both ends in the installation direction of the pump chambers and oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the installation direction of the pump chambers and substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the piston parts. A plurality of cams are aligned adjacent each other in the axial direction on the motor drive shaft. The cams are linked to the piston parts so that the cams cause the reciprocal movement of the piston parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tacmina Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10590924
    Abstract: A medical fluid pumping system includes (i) a medical fluid pump including a pump chamber, inlet and outlet valve chambers in fluid communication with the pump chamber, the pump chamber associated with a pumping chamber motive fluid connection, the inlet valve chamber associated with an inlet valve motive fluid connection, and the outlet valve chamber associated with an outlet valve motive fluid connection; and (ii) a medical fluid chassis including a motive fluid source, and a first motive fluid connecting structure, a second motive fluid connecting structure, a third motive fluid connecting structure. The pumping chamber motive fluid connection, the inlet valve motive fluid connection, and the outlet valve motive fluid connection are translated simultaneously to mate respectively with the first motive fluid connecting structure, the second motive fluid connecting structure, and the third motive fluid connecting structure for fluid communication with the motive fluid source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventor: Troy J. Orr
  • Patent number: 10590925
    Abstract: A control system for hermetic cooling compressor includes a reciprocating compressor (3) and an electronic control (2) for the reciprocating compressor (3). The electronic control (2) is configured for, after commanding the turning off of the reciprocating compressor (3), detecting whether the turn velocity (23) of the turning axle (10) is below a predefined velocity level, and then applying a braking torque (36) that causes deceleration of the turning axle (10) before completing the next turn of the turning axle (10), in case the turn velocity (23) detected is below the velocity level (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Embraco—Industria De Compressores E Solucoes EM Refrigeracao Ltda.
    Inventors: Marcos Guilherme Schwarz, Filipe Guolo Nazario
  • Patent number: 10590926
    Abstract: A variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system is provided. The method includes monitoring a pressure in the fluid system, monitoring and adjusting an operating frequency of the motor to maintain the pressure at a pressure set point, and, based on the monitored operating frequency, causing the pump to temporarily boost the pressure in the fluid system to a temporary boost set point for a first time period. The method also includes determining whether the temporarily boosted pressure in the fluid system stays above the pressure set point for a second time period and causing the pump to enter a sleep mode when the temporarily boosted pressure stays above the pressure set point through the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Melissa Drechsel Kidd, William James Genaw, Michael Pasche, Gary T. Baase, II
  • Patent number: 10590927
    Abstract: A lubricating sealing system for a fluid end includes a fluid end, a sleeve, a plunger, and a lubrication system. The sleeve is coupled to an internal surface of the fluid end. The plunger reciprocates in a linear manner through the sleeve and into a pressure chamber of the fluid end. The lubrication system is in communication with the plunger and configured to provide lubricant through an interior of the plunger for routing to surfaces between the plunger and the sleeve. The lubricant is pressurized and moved via the reciprocating of the plunger and create a positive pressure on the lubricant over the pressures experienced in the pressure chamber of the fluid end. The positive pressure creates a barrier and pushes away contaminants from the plunger seals thereby avoiding wash out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ST9 GAS AND OIL, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Buckley