Thermal Conditions Patents (Class 322/33)
  • Patent number: 11881793
    Abstract: A triboelectric generator comprises a first body moveable relative to a second body. Power generation modules are disposed on the first body and one or more actuating elements are disposed on the second body. Each power generation module is electrically connected to a common output and comprises material capable of generating electrical power through the triboelectric effect when contacting another surface. The power generation modules and one or more actuating elements are arranged on the bodies such that relative movement of the bodies causes the one or more actuating elements to come into contact with the power generation modules, wherein the contact causes the material of that power generation module to be brought into contact with said other surface to generate electrical power. The power generation modules may supply electrical power to the common output at different times, providing a more continuous supply of electrical power from the common output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: University of Surrey
    Inventors: Ishara Dharmasena, Sembukuttiarachilage Ravi Pradip Silva
  • Patent number: 11670936
    Abstract: An apparatus for managing a plurality of electric power generators is configured to receive measurements of a plurality of parameters related to performance of one or more of a plurality of generators and detect, based on the measurements, that values of at least two of the plurality of parameters measured for a first generator of the one or more generators do not match respective predetermined values of the at least two parameters for the first generator. In response to the detecting, the apparatus determines that the first generator is faulty and generates a signal to perform at least one of shutting down the first generator or disconnecting the first generator from at least one second generator of the plurality of generators, in response to determining that the first generator is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose L. Maldonado, Glenn Howard Weightman
  • Patent number: 11522357
    Abstract: A terminal device, a method for monitoring battery safety of a terminal device, and a system for monitoring battery safety of a terminal device are provided. The method for monitoring battery safety includes the following. Acquire status information of a battery of the terminal device. Determine whether the terminal device meets a preset safety hazard condition according to the status information. Upon determining that the terminal device meets the preset safety hazard condition, control the terminal device to be in a power-off state or disconnect a power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Zhihua Hu, Hui Zhang, Jialiang Zhang, Shebiao Chen
  • Patent number: 11437839
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a first battery and a second battery arranged in the housing, a power management module, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a first current limiting integrated circuit (IC) configured to limit a maximum intensity of a first current flowing into the first battery, a second current limiting IC configured to limit a maximum intensity of a second current flowing into the second battery, and a processor. The processor may determine whether the first temperature or the second temperature is outside a specified temperature range and, when the first temperature is outside of the specified temperature range, control the first current limiting IC to reduce a magnitude of the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngmi Ha, Seungbeom Kang, Kyounghoon Kim, Daeneung Kim, Duhyun Kim, Byungwook Kim, Boeun Lee, Jungmin Lee, Sungjoon Cho, Jaemu Ha
  • Patent number: 11371415
    Abstract: Provided is a flow control valve and a cooling system, with which a pressure loss can be reduced. A rotor 12 includes a first guide portion 43 on the outer circumferential side of an extending portion 42 fixed to a drive shaft 13 and protruding into a space inside the rotor 12. The first guide portion 43 has a radial outer shape which increases from an x-axis positive direction side toward an x-axis negative direction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshimura, Shingo Murakami, Zhenyu Shen
  • Patent number: 11309598
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heating control method and a heating control device. The heating control method includes: acquiring an average current value in a heating circuit of a power battery pack; calculating a current output value required for nth cycle according to an average current value of the nth cycle, an average current value of (n?1)th cycle, an average current value of (n?2)th cycle, a preset current value, n is equal to or greater than 3; outputting a PWM signal to a switch device of the heating circuit according to a pre-calibrated PWM control parameter corresponding to the current output value so that a difference between an actual current value in the heating circuit and the preset current value is less than a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Wenbin Lu, Wei Zhang, Yizhen Hou, Teng Yu, Xiyang Zuo, Xingyuan Wu, Taosheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 11295555
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for analyzing vibration data and for identifying and tracking vibration anomalies in industrial machines are described. In various embodiments, the system described herein collects, transforms, and analyzes sensor data from one or more machines, such as industrial machines. The system may identify one or more sensors that are experiencing vibrational anomalies. In various embodiments, the system: collects and analyzes vibration data for a set of one or more vibration-related sensors of one or more industrial machines; determines an occurrence of one or more anomalies based on the vibration data as compared to a threshold; tracks anomalies in collected vibration data for the one or more industrial machines of the facility; generates a report of vibration data for the one or more vibration-related sensors of the facility; and reports industrial machines in the facility that may deviate from a target performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Lee Coyne, Roshan Shah
  • Patent number: 11056990
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrical generator with a control unit may include: providing an electrical output voltage by rotating a rotor unit relative to a stator unit at a given rotation speed; providing the control unit with a control unit supply voltage; determining a control unit supply voltage value of the control unit supply voltage; providing the rotor unit with a rotor supply voltage; determining a rotation speed of the rotor unit; determining an ambient temperature of the electrical generator; determining a rotor supply voltage value for the determined rotation speed, and the determined ambient temperature and the determined control unit supply voltage value at which the electrical generator may have a maximal permitted thermal load; and operating the electrical generator at the maximal permitted thermal load by at least one of adjusting and controlling the rotor supply voltage of the rotor unit to the determined rotor supply voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Stas Kanalec
  • Patent number: 10968809
    Abstract: Provided is a flow control valve and a cooling system, with which a pressure loss can be reduced. A rotor 12 includes a first guide portion 43 on the outer circumferential side of an extending portion 42 fixed to a drive shaft 13 and protruding into a space inside the rotor 12. The first guide portion 43 has a radial outer shape which increases from an x-axis positive direction side toward an x-axis negative direction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshimura, Shingo Murakami, Zhenyu Shen
  • Patent number: 10784739
    Abstract: A hybrid module includes a housing, a bearing, and an electric motor. The electric motor has a rotor with a rotor carrier radially positioned by the bearing in the housing. The rotor carrier has an annular ring comprising an annular ring outer surface with a first outer diameter. The rotor has a plurality of rotor segments installed on the rotor carrier. The plurality of rotor segments include an outer circumferential surface with a second outer diameter, less than the first outer diameter. In some example embodiments, the electric motor has a stator with a bobbin core and a bobbin shield installed on the bobbin core. In some example embodiments, the bobbin core is at least partially radially aligned with the plurality of rotor segments, and the bobbin shield is at least partially radially aligned with the annular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Klett, Markus Steinberger
  • Patent number: 10731630
    Abstract: A control method for increasing reactive power generation of a wind turbine having a Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) includes obtaining, by a control device having one or more processors and one or more memory devices, wind forecast data of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes generating, by the control device, a real-time thermal model of the DFIG of the wind turbine using the wind forecast data. More specifically, the thermal model defines a thermal capacity for the DFIG that does not exceed system limits. Thus, the method also includes dynamically adjusting, by the control device, a reactive power set point of the DFIG of the wind turbine based on the real-time thermal model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Rajni Kant Burra, Yashomani Y. Kolhatkar, Harold Robert Schnetzka
  • Patent number: 10714947
    Abstract: A battery system comprising multiple battery packs. A battery pack of the battery packs includes a battery, voltage sense circuitry, a control circuit, a control switch and current regulation circuitry. The voltage sense circuitry senses a battery voltage of the battery and an input voltage of the battery pack. The control circuit is coupled to the sense circuitry and is operable for adjusting a level of a reference signal based on attribute data associated with the battery pack and a difference between the battery voltage and the input voltage. The control switch is operable for passing a battery current flowing through the battery. The current regulation circuitry is coupled to the control circuit and the control switch, and is operable for controlling the control switch to regulate the battery current according to the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: O2MICRO INC.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 10475319
    Abstract: A generator includes an engine, an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, where the air-fuel mixing device is structured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture, an exhaust outlet positioned on a first side of the generator and coupled to the engine, wherein the exhaust outlet is structured to emit exhaust gases from the engine, and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned on a second side of the generator opposite the exhaust outlet, where the CO sensor is structured to detect CO concentration near the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Janscha, David W. Procknow, Brandon Nigh, Mark David Willer
  • Patent number: 10319207
    Abstract: A generator includes an engine, an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, where the air-fuel mixing device is configured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture, an exhaust outlet positioned on a first side of the generator and coupled to the engine, wherein the exhaust outlet is configured to emit exhaust gases from the engine, and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned on a second side of the generator opposite the exhaust outlet, where the CO sensor is configured to detect CO concentration near the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Janscha, David W. Procknow, Brandon Nigh, Mark David Willer
  • Patent number: 10029727
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine control device includes a first system controller and a second system controller, an overheat protection controller and an abnormality detector. The overheat protection controller includes a temperature estimator and a restricted current calculator. The temperature estimator estimates system temperatures as well as other temperature, including a shared component temperature of a shared component that is connected to both of plural systems in a shared manner. The restricted current calculator calculates restricted current values, based on the system temperatures and the shared component temperature. At least one of the system temperatures, the shared component temperature, and/or the restricted current values is changed from an all-systems normal time, when at least one of a plurality of systems is abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9806596
    Abstract: A control board where the ground potential includes a first conductor extending from the ground terminal of the power source generator to a first branch, a second conductor branching at the first branch, extending to the temperature detector, and electrically connected to only the temperature detector on a downstream side of the first branch, and a third conductor branching in a direction not directed to the second conductor at the first branch and extending to the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita Mutsuura
  • Patent number: 8788107
    Abstract: Damage is prevented on electric devices in a case where a generator is installed in a cold weather. A wind turbine generator includes a power supply unit connected to a utility grid via a switch gear; a utility grid voltage measuring unit provided between the power supply unit and the utility grid, for measuring a voltage of the utility grid; and a temperature measuring unit for obtaining an ambient temperature of the power supply unit. In a case where a measurement value of the temperature measuring unit or an ambient temperature of the power supply unit estimated based on the measurement value is smaller than a first temperature threshold determined based on a function guarantee temperature of the power supply unit and the voltage measured by the utility grid voltage measuring unit is smaller than a preset voltage threshold, the switch gear operates to interrupt the connection between the power supply unit and the utility grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Yasugi
  • Patent number: 8760127
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling a temperature of a generator is provided, wherein the system includes a fluid supply in fluid communication with the generator and a heat exchange apparatus in fluid communication with the fluid supply, the generator and a cooling fluid source. The system also includes a first sensor configured to determine a first temperature of a fluid flowing from the heat exchange apparatus to the generator, a second sensor configured to determine a second temperature of the fluid flowing from the generator to the fluid supply and a controller configured to determine an operating limit temperature for the fluid based on the determined first and second temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Balamurugan Sridharan, James Daniel Antalek, Steven Craig Kluge, Rebinth Jose Robin, John Russell Yagielski
  • Patent number: 8736234
    Abstract: A power converter control apparatus includes a power converter part having a bridge circuit formed of a switching element and a field circuit controlling conduction of a field winding in an AC generator, and a control apparatus part having a field current detector, a temperature detector detecting a temperature of a generator part, the power converter part, or the control apparatus part, a field current instruction computation portion computing a field current instruction value of the generator, a temperature rise suppression portion computing a generated current suppression value on the basis of an output of the temperature detector and computing a field current suppression value on the basis of the computed generated current suppression value, a field current instruction selection portion selecting the field current instruction value or the field current suppression value whichever is the smaller, and a field current control portion controlling a field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Masato Mori, Kenichi Akita, Mitsunori Tabata
  • Patent number: 8710807
    Abstract: A generator has a field coil of a rotor, an armature coil of a stator, a control device supplying an exciting current to the field coil when detecting rotation of the rotor, and a control circuit alternately setting an upper arm transistor and a lower arm transistor in on state in a rectifier module to generate a phase voltage. The control device detects the rotation from a periodic change in a sign of the difference between the phase voltage and a reference voltage. When the rectifier module is overheated, the control circuit sets the upper arm transistor in the off state and sets the lower arm transistor in the on state to almost fix the phase voltage, the control device detects no rotation and stops supplying the exciting current, and the rectifier module generates no phase voltage to decrease temperature of the rectifier module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Harumi Horihata, Hideaki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8575900
    Abstract: A generator apparatus comprises a deicing circuit. The deicing circuit is operable during a time when a main generator rotor is not being rotated by a generator shaft. The deicing circuit includes a first power source for energizing a plurality of exciter field windings with alternating input current to induce an exciter output current in a plurality of exciter armature windings. The exciter output current is provided to main generator rotor windings for producing resistance heating around an air gap separating the main generator rotor from a main generator stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Todd A. Spierling
  • Patent number: 8450984
    Abstract: A system and method for diagnosis and prognosis of thermal sensitivity in a rotor of an electrical machine. A first system is provided for evaluating thermal sensitivity in a rotor of an electrical machine and includes: an input system for obtaining vibration data and field current from the rotor and for obtaining a set of operating parameter; a system for calculating a relationship between vibration and field current; an evaluation system for determining whether the relationship is significant; and a system for issuing a notification of thermal sensitivity in response to a determination of a significant relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravikumar Sandrana, Sudhanshu Rai
  • Patent number: 8368360
    Abstract: A regulator system for modulating a field current of an alternator device, comprises logic arranged to receive or generate a reference signal comparison logic arranged to compare a received alternator output indication to the reference signal; and generate a field current modulation signal at least partially based on the comparison of the received alternator output indication and the reference signal. The regulator system further comprises logic arranged to receive at least one temperature indication. The regulator system comprises thermal compensation logic arranged to determine whether an indicated temperature exceeds at least a first threshold, and upon determining that the indicated temperature exceeds at least the first threshold, to apply compensation to the reference signal, the amount by which the reference signal is compensated is at least partly dependant on the amount by which the indicated temperature exceeds the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Pechaud, Philippe Meunier
  • Patent number: 8193782
    Abstract: The abnormality detection apparatus includes a first function of measuring a first temperature of a first portion of the abnormality detection apparatus, the first temperature having a correlation with a second temperature of a second portion of a vehicle alternator, a second function of integrating a stress depending on a temperature variation of the first portion on the basis of the first temperature measured by the first function, a third function of predicting occurrence of abnormality in the second portion depending on the stress integrated by the second function, and a fourth function of issuing an alarm when the third function predicts occurrence of abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mori, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8174246
    Abstract: A switching element, a duty deciding circuit, an LRC circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, and an LRC limit value deciding circuit are included. The switching element 58 outputs a duty factor of a field winding of a vehicle power generator towards an ECU, via an FR terminal. The duty deciding circuit limits a speed at which the duty factor of the field winding increases to a predetermined limit value. The voltage detecting circuit detects a voltage at the FR terminal. The LRC limit value deciding circuit switches the limit value of the speed at which the duty factor increases based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kizawa, Tomoya Okuno
  • Patent number: 8138730
    Abstract: In a voltage controller for a vehicle, voltage controlling means controls an output voltage of a power generator mounted on the vehicle and a terminal voltage of a battery connected to the power generator, by controlling of a field current passing through a field winding of the power generator. This control is performed by operating switching means connected to the field winding so that the switching means is conducted intermittently. Signal generating means generates a power generator state signal by measuring a state of the power generator at predetermined measurement periods. Signal averaging means performs an exponentially weighted averaging of the power generator state signal. The signal averaging means executes the averaging within a predetermined averaging period and updates the averaging at every predetermined measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8035357
    Abstract: A permanent magnet machine (PMM) has a kinetic portion electrically coupled to a power conversion portion. Motive power is provided to the kinetic portion by a torque applied to a motive shaft coupled to a prime mover, such as an aircraft engine or an automobile engine. A sensor is effective to detect a fault condition in the kinetic portion. When a fault is detected, the sensor applies a voltage to a winding within the kinetic portion generating an opposing directional counter torque to the motive shaft. A combination of the torque and counter torque exceeds a fracture yield strength of the motive shaft. The fault condition is then rendered safe while the prime mover may continue normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Stanley C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7847525
    Abstract: A thermal protecting circuit is provided for an alternator controller. The protecting circuit comprises a switching member switching on/off the alternator; a sensor sensing a temperature of the switching member; and a switching control circuit. This switching control circuit switches off the switching member when the temperature of the switching member exceeds a first predetermined temperature. This switching control circuit switches on the switching member when the temperature of the switching member is lower than a second predetermined temperature. The second predetermined temperature is set to be higher than the first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhito Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20100277135
    Abstract: A regulator system for modulating a field current of an alternator device, comprises logic arranged to receive or generate a reference signal comparison logic arranged to compare a received alternator output indication to the reference signal; and generate a field current modulation signal at least partially based on the comparison of the received alternator output indication and the reference signal. The regulator system further comprises logic arranged to receive at least one temperature indication. The regulator system comprises thermal compensation logic arranged to determine whether an indicated temperature exceeds at least a first threshold, and upon determining that the indicated temperature exceeds at least the first threshold, to apply compensation to the reference signal, the amount by which the reference signal is compensated is at least partly dependant on the amount by which the indicated temperature exceeds the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Bernard Pechaud, Philippe Meunier
  • Patent number: 7679305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for temperature limitation according to the current and/or voltage, for an actuating device (10) associated with an electric motor (M), especially a fan regulator (12) of a motor vehicle, the temperature limitation being carried out according to at least one operating parameter of the motor (M). The invention also relates to a corresponding device (1) and a fan regulator (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Eisenhardt
  • Patent number: 7602152
    Abstract: The vehicle-use power generation control apparatus for controlling an operation of a vehicle generator includes a temperature detecting circuit detecting a temperature of a predetermined place reflecting a temperature of the vehicle generator, and a power control circuit having a function of restricting, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting circuit exceeds a predetermined reference temperature, a power generation amount of the vehicle generator at a predetermined change rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Oshima, Toshinori Maruyama, Nobuhito Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090225608
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for a power generator system. A power generator system ay comprise at least one control device including control logic. The at least one control device may be configured to receive at least one control signal and output an upper reference voltage and lower reference voltage. The at least one control device may be further configured to vary a magnitude of at least one of the upper reference voltage and the lower reference voltage. The power generator system may also comprise a power generator operably coupled to the at least one control device and configured to receive the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. The power generator may be further configured to output a voltage that greater than or equal to the first reference voltage and less than or equal to the second reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: George F. G. Carey, Brian P. Callaway
  • Patent number: 7583063
    Abstract: The invention includes an electric machine having a rotor, stator and at least one winding in the stator adapted to conduct a current, and a secondary winding, electrically isolated from the first winding and inductively coupled to the first winding, which may be used to control at least one of the output voltage and current of the first winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 7564224
    Abstract: In a power-generator control apparatus installed in a power-generator designed to generate an output voltage at an output terminal thereof, a regulating unit regulates the output voltage so that the regulated output voltage is equivalent to a first target value. When a periodic signal with a predetermined frequency is applied from the outside of the power-generator to the output terminal thereof to be superimposed on the output voltage, a regulated voltage changing unit operatively connected to the regulating unit receives the periodic signal, and compares the frequency of the received periodic signal with a predetermined threshold frequency. The regulated voltage changing unit changes the first target value of the regulated output voltage to a second target value upon the frequency of the received periodic signal being higher than the predetermined threshold frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7538522
    Abstract: This device is A Specially Improved Automotive Replacement Voltage Regulator for use in the automotive components remanufacturing and original equipment alternator product. Particularly this device has additional transient suppression means for the loads; “high side drive” of the rotor field to eliminate corrosion from the low side short condition; full passivation around the monolithic chip; and a monolithic chip that contains both the power and control devices which permits a simplified heat sink for thermal dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Taditel US, Inc
    Inventor: Justin B. Lybbert
  • Patent number: 7538523
    Abstract: The control apparatus-integrated generator-motor has: a generator-motor; and a control apparatus that is constituted by an inverter, a control circuit, a temperature sensor, etc. The control circuit determines whether or not switching element temperature will exceed the maximum permissible temperature when a command for an automatic engine stopping operation is issued. Then, if it is determined that the maximum permissible temperature will be exceeded, generated output of the generator-motor is reduced immediately before the automatic engine stopping operation in such a way that the switching element temperature will not exceed the maximum permissible temperature. The engine is subsequently stopped automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kitamura, Yoshihito Asao
  • Patent number: 7489114
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive unit that includes an intermediate shaft, a starting clutch and motor generator that includes a stator that is fixed to an interior portion of a motor casing that is attached to a housing of the transmission; a rotor support member that is coupled to the clutch drum and has an inner end portion that is rotatably supported by an end wall of the motor casing and a rotor support portion that is fitted to an outer perimeter face of the clutch drum in an axial direction such that there is play between the rotor support portion and the outer perimeter face; and a rotor that is held by the rotor support portion of the rotor support member and is disposed such that an outer perimeter face of the rotor faces an inner perimeter face of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nomura, Yasuo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7405543
    Abstract: In a device for regulating the power output of an electrical generator in motor vehicles having an internal combustion engine, in which the generator has a regulator unit, which prevents exceeding at least one limiting temperature by regulation, the regulator unit is connected via a bidirectional interface to an electronic control unit assigned to the internal combustion engine. The control unit and the regulator unit are designed in such a way that the regulator unit, after transmitting at least one value relevant to the limiting temperature from the control unit to the regulator unit, stores the particular applicable limiting temperature determined by this value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manfred Schmid
  • Patent number: 7397224
    Abstract: This invention discloses a vehicle electrical system voltage regulator with improved electrical protection and warning means that discerns and responds to regulator, generator, or vehicle electrical system operation and malfunctions. The regulator includes monitoring, control, and protection circuits with a phase signal monitor, a field switching circuit that operates the field coil in response to electrical power demands, and a field enable switch in series with the field regulating switch. The phase monitor and protection circuit ascertains and transmits generator rotational motion for use by the monitoring and control circuit in discerning the various operating conditions. The monitoring and control circuit operates on the field switching circuit to meet the electrical power demands and provide multi level fault protection to include field switching circuit reconfiguration to continue operating under various fault conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: C. E. Niehoff & Co.
    Inventor: Issam Jabaji
  • Publication number: 20080150472
    Abstract: An electrical energy generating apparatus includes a hollow pipe, permanent magnetic fluid held in the hollow pipe, a ferrite film wrapped around the hollow pipe, a heat source receiving device joined to a portion of the hollow pipe, and an induction coil wound around the hollow pipe; the induction coil being connected to a storage battery; in use, the heat source receiving device will receive heat energy from heat sources so that a portion of the fluid is heated, and temperature and pressure difference comes into existence in the fluid, and convection in the liquid happens to circulate the nano-chip permanent magnets around the hollow pipe; therefore, there is change in a magnetic field between the nano-chip permanent magnets and the ferrite film, and in turn the induction coil produces electric field, and electrical energy is produced, and next stored in the storage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Hua-Hsin Tsai
  • Publication number: 20070268003
    Abstract: Systems and method for mixing the output of a vehicle alternator throughout any operating temperature range include a first temperature sensor for measuring a first temperature and a second temperature sensor for measuring a first temperature. A first temperature module compares the first temperature with a first temperature reference to determine a first temperature error, and to calculate a first duty cycle reference based on the first temperature error. A second temperature module compares the second temperature with a second temperature reference based on the second temperature error, and to calculate a second duty cycle reference based on the second temperature error. A duty cycle selection module selects the lesser of the first duty cycle reference or the second duty cycle reference as a maximum system duty cycle. A duty cycle control module regulates a field current of the vehicle alternator based on the maximum system duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Sergei F. Kolomeitsev, Thomas James Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7294991
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a first detecting unit detects the number of revolutions of a power generator, a second detecting unit detects an output voltage of the power generator, and a third detecting unit detects an output current of the power generator. A torque calculating unit calculates power generation torque based on the detected number of revolutions of the power generator, the detected output voltage, and the detected output current using relationship information. The relationship information represents a relationship between the power generation torque and each of the number of revolutions of the power generator, the output voltage, and the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Norihito Kimura, Katsunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7288922
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle generator includes a switch, a regulator, a fault condition detector, and a PWM signal generator. The switch is selectively turned on and off so as to intermittently excite the generator. The regulator controls on/off operation of the switch so as to bring an output of the generator into agreement with a target value. The fault condition detector detects a fault condition of the generator. The PWM signal generator generates and outputs a PWM signal that has a duty determined as a function of a duty of the on/off operation of the switch and a frequency determined based on if the fault condition of the generator is detected by the fault condition detector. Consequently, the control apparatus can inform an external control apparatus of the duty of the on/off operation of the switch and the fault condition of the generator with the single PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Fuyuki Maehara, Kazuyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7199559
    Abstract: An electric power generating system for a vehicle includes a generator having a field coil, a voltage regulator, a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the voltage regulator, a field current restricting circuit that directly restricts field current if temperature of the voltage regulator becomes higher than a maximum level and a device that prevents temperature of the voltage regulator from further rising without directly restricting field current if temperature of the voltage regulator becomes a warning level that is lower than the maximum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunori Yanagi
  • Patent number: 7116081
    Abstract: A system and a method for thermally protecting a high output vehicle alternator are provided. The high output vehicle alternator includes a duty cycle control system. The duty cycle control system includes an alternator temperature signal generator and an alternator rotor speed signal generator in communication with an alternator having a speed limit and a temperature limit. The duty cycle control system regulates the field current supplied to the alternator based on the temperature and rotor speed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Richard Wilson
  • Patent number: 6982545
    Abstract: An alternator system includes a permanent magnet alternator, battery and voltage regulator operatively connected to the permanent magnet alternator and battery for regulating the charging of the battery. The voltage regulator includes a rectifying circuit for rectifying the alternating current and a semiconductor switching element operative for turning the regulator on and off based on a predetermined temperature threshold to prevent overheating of any voltage regulator electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Wetherill Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald L. Browning, Juan Aguila
  • Patent number: 6873080
    Abstract: The magnetic circuit of a synchronous compensator plant is included in an electric machine which is directly connected to a high supply voltage of 20-800 kV, preferably higher than 36 kV. The electric machine is provided with solid insulation and its winding(s) is/are built up of a cable (6) intended for high voltage comprising one or more current-carrying conductors (31) with a number of strands (36) surrounded by at least one outer and one inner semiconducting layer (34, 32) and intermediate insulating layers (33). The plant is made as a mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Mats Leijon, Bertil Berggren
  • Patent number: 6727600
    Abstract: An underwater generator contains a three-phase electromagnetic coil system imbedded in a stator to form an external face surface perpendicular to its axis. A rotor contains radial vanes and a system of alternating permanent magnets imbedded onto a peripheral ring outside of the vanes so as to form an internal face surface positioned next to the external face surface and forming an axial gap therebetween. The rotor also contains a series of radial channels connecting the central area of the hollow shaft to the area of the axial gap. The rotor is spring-loaded and is capable of moving along its axis so that the axial gap can be changed. An auxiliary pump is provides to pump water into the axial gap and therefore create a hydrostatic pressure on the rotor to counteract the electromagnetic attraction forces generated during the operation of the device. The flow of the auxiliary pump is chosen in such a way as to maintain the axial gap within the range of 0.15 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Ilich Abdurachmanov
  • Patent number: 6725668
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: a sample having a ferromagnetic phase transition temperature; means to magnetise the sample above the ferromagnetic phase transition temperature of the sample; and means to cool the sample to a temperature that is below the ferromagnetic phase transition temperature thereof, wherein the demagnetisation of the sample whilst the sample is below the ferromagnetic phase transition temperature thereof causes the generation of an independent magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Remi Oseri Cornwall
  • Patent number: 6633802
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a multiple of electrical generators which provide power for vehicle electrical systems or loads through an electrical load management center which communicates with a general purpose processor set such that the power supplied to each electrical load may be individually controlled. A display communicates with the GPPS to present an electrical system status screen to the vehicle crew such that the crew is constantly made aware of the prevailing electrical power conditions in a rapid and efficient manner. During a drastically reduced generator situation, the GPPS automatically disconnects loads via a predefined load shed priority list. Once electrical loads are disconnected via the predefined load shed priority list the crew can reactivate and deactivate selected systems for the current mission circumstances through a load recovery screen accessible through the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony F. Sodoski, Bruce S. Hamilton, Michael P. Bradford