| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20120061969 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND TIDAL CURRENT GENERATOR - An object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine generator and a tidal current generator equipped with a hydraulic transmission with a combination of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor and which has a superior productivity and maintainability. The wind turbine generator | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063929 | HYDRAULIC PUMP STRUCTURE FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR OR TIDAL CURRENT GENERATOR AND METHOD OF MOUNTING HYDRAULIC PUMP - An object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic pump structure which improves the ease of mounting the hydraulic pump on the main shaft, and a method of mounting the hydraulic pump which can be performed in a simplified manner. A hydraulic pump unit | 03-15-2012 |
| 20130009612 | ENERGY EXTRACTION DEVICE WITH ELECTRICAL GENERATOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING ENERGY EXTRACTION DEVICE ELECTRICAL GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator, or other energy extraction device, has a hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulic pump driven by a rotating shaft and a hydraulic motor driving an electricity generator. When the electricity generator is switched off, it executes one or more pumping cycles to pressurise the high pressure manifold and therefore recover angular kinetic energy from the electricity generator rotor which can later be used to reaccelerate the electricity generator rotor to the correct operating speed for an electricity grid. Overall energy efficiency is increased and the minimum operating high pressure manifold pressure may be reduced as a result. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130032745 | FACE SEALING ANNULAR VALVE - In a face sealing annular valve, an annular valve member is retained around or within a guide. The annular valve member is configured so that, when the annular valve member and the annular valve seat are coaxial, the spacing between the guide means and the guide-engaging surface region increases with distance along the central axis from a minimum of spacing between the annular valve member and the guide means. An end stop limits the tilt of the annular valve member. Advantageously, the annular valve member has restricted radial movement, enabling a good seal to be formed, while being unable to simultaneously contact diametrically opposite sides of the guide and jam. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130032747 | FACE SEALING ANNULAR VALVE FOR A FLUID-WORKING MACHINE - A face sealing annular valve ( | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130067900 | POWER GENERATING APPARATUS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TYPE - A power generating apparatus includes a rotating shaft, a hydraulic pump driven by the rotating shaft, a hydraulic motor driven by pressurized oil supplied from the hydraulic pump, and a generator coupled to the hydraulic motor. Each of the hydraulic pump and motor includes working chambers each defined by a cylinder and a piston, a high pressure manifold and a low pressure manifold. Each of the high and low pressure manifolds includes branch channels connected to the working chambers and a merging channel connected to a high or low pressure oil line. The branch channels are equipped with high or low pressures valves, joined together and merged into the merging channel. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130205986 | ANNULAR VALVE - An annular valve ( | 08-15-2013 |
| 20160003239 | VALVE UNIT A FLUID WORKING MACHINE COMPRISING A VALVE UNIT - A valve unit for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and both a first working fluid line and second working fluid line, the valve unit comprising: a first valve comprising a first valve member and one or more cooperating first valve seats, a second valve comprising a second valve member and one or more cooperating second valve seats, an actuator coupled to both the first and second valve members through which a force may be applied to urge the first valve member open or closed and to urge the second valve member open or closed, a coupling between the actuator and the first valve member, wherein the coupling between the actuator and the first valve member comprises a connector which extends at least partially through the second valve member. | 01-07-2016 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080245322 | Valvetrain Control Arrangement - A valvetrain control arrangement for an internal combustion engine. A fluid-working machine ( | 10-09-2008 |
| 20090210120 | HYDROSTATIC REGENERATIVE DRIVE SYSTEM - A variable transmission comprises a first fluid working machine ( | 08-20-2009 |
| 20100084587 | FLUID-WORKING MACHINE - In a fluid-working machine having a high-pressure line and a working chamber, a valve arrangement is arranged to control fluid flow from the high-pressure line to the working chamber. The valve arrangement comprises a main valve having a valve element arranged to provide sealing contact with a valve seat, and an auxiliary valve comprising an electromagnetically-movable valve member for equalising pressure on either side of the main valve by placing the working chamber in direct fluid communication with the high-pressure line. The electromagnetically-movable valve member may comprise a spool valve member or a poppet valve member. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100175551 | PISTON RINGS - A piston ring ( | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100243067 | OPERATING METHOD FOR A HYDRAULIC MACHINE - A hydraulic machine has at least one working chamber ( | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110123354 | Fluid-working machine and operating method - A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g., cylinders, of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold and a low-pressure fluid manifold, at least one valve linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber, wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and the electronic sequencing means is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110209783 | VALVE ASSEMBLIES - An electronically actuatable valve assembly having a primary face seating valve, including a primary valve member, and a secondary valve, including a secondary valve member. The secondary valve opens before the primary valve to equilibrate pressure across the primary valve member and thereby facilitate opening of the primary valve member. The secondary valve is coupled to an armature which moves from a first position to a second position, in use, attracted by an electromagnet. The coupling between the armature and the secondary valve is configured to enable the armature to begin to move from the first position without movement of the secondary valve. The armature has therefore moved from the first position, closer to the electromagnet, when the secondary valve is opened by way of the forces exerted through the coupling between the armature and the secondary valve member, and so a greater force can be exerted to open the secondary valve than would be the case if the secondary valve member was fixedly coupled to the armature. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110209784 | VALVE ASSEMBLIES - An electronically actuatable valve assembly including a valve member comprising a ferromagnetic member, and a magnetic circuit adapted to direct magnetic flux through the ferromagnetic member when the valve member is spaced apart from its valve seat, to hold the primary valve open. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110226342 | FLUID WORKING MACHINES AND METHODS - A fluid working machine comprises a controller ( | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110253918 | VALVE ACTUATOR - The invention relates to a valve actuator ( | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110268590 | FLUID WORKING MACHINES AND METHODS - A fluid working machine, operable to carry out a motoring cycle under at least some circumstances, comprises a controller ( | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110315003 | VALVE ASSEMBLY - A valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid between a working chamber of a fluid-working machine and a fluid manifold. The valve assembly comprising a valve body comprising a valve seat, a fluid passage extending through the valve body, and a travelling member comprising a valve member and operable between an open position in which the valve member is spaced apart from the valve seat and fluid can flow through the fluid passage and a closed position in which the valve member is in sealing contact with the valve seat preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid passage. The valve assembly further defines a fluid flow path passing in a first fluid flow mode, between the valve member and the valve seat, and into the fluid passage. The valve assembly is characterised by a barrier upstream of the valve member, to the barrier reduces one or more forces which would otherwise act on the valve member as a result of the flow of fluid to urge the valve member towards the valve seat. Thus, one or more forces which would otherwise act on the valve member to urge the valve member to the closed position due to the flow of fluid past the valve member in the first fluid flow mode are reduced or removed. There is also disclosed a valve assembly in which fluid flowing along the said fluid flow path is incident on the downstream surface of the valve member at an angle of at least 80° to the direction in which the valve member is operable to travel between the open position and the closed position. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315004 | VALVE ASSEMBLY - A valve assembly suitable for regulating the flow of fluid between a working chamber of a fluid-working machine and a fluid manifold. The valve assembly comprises a valve body comprising a valve seat, a fluid passage extending through the valve body, and a travelling member comprising a valve member, which valve member is operable between an open position in which the valve member is spaced apart from the valve seat and fluid can flow through the fluid passage and a closed position in which the valve member is in sealing contact with the valve seat preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid passage. The valve assembly defining a fluid flow path passing, in a first fluid flow mode, between the valve member and the valve seat, and into the fluid passage. The valve assembly is characterised by defining a fluid flow path including a constricted flow region and further comprising a reduced pressure chamber in communication with both a first surface of the travelling member and the constricted flow region, arranged to exert a force on the travelling member by way of a pressure reduction in the reduced pressure chamber when fluid is flowing along the fluid flow path, through the constricted flow region, which force acts to resist closure of the valve. Thus, a force is generated which opposes forces acting on the valve member due to the flow of fluid past the valve member. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315251 | ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES - An electronically controlled valve includes a travelling member with a sealing member and operable between a closed position in which the sealing member forms a seal with a valve seat, and an open position. The valve further has a decelerating mechanism operable to slow the movement of the armature during closure of the valve. The sealing member and armature are decoupled and thereby moveable relative to each other such that the armature can continue to move and decelerate due to the action of the damping mechanism after the sealing member has impacted the valve seat. The peak deceleration force on the armature is thereby reduced, increasing the lifetime of the valve or the maximum rate at which it can be closed without damage. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120000554 | ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES - An electronically controlled valve for regulating the supply of fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and a manifold, which valve includes a pilot valve and a pilot valve elastic member charged in use by the movement of the armature towards the electromagnet during closure of the valve to provide a return force urging the pilot valve sealing member away from the pilot valve seat. The valve is especially useful as the low pressure valve of a fluid working motor. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120042771 | ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE - An electronically controlled valve includes a valve member moveable between a first position and a second position. A valve member moving mechanism is operable to receive energy from a fluid-working machine crankshaft, or other rotating shaft, and to provide a valve member moving force to urge the valve member from the first position to the second position using the received energy. Thus, the energy used for movement of the valve against a pressure gradient is derived from the crankshaft. Energy received from the crankshaft can be stored and used subsequently to urge the valve member from the first position, allowing the valve to function despite timing differences between the availability of energy from the crankshaft and the requirement for energy to move the valve member. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120045327 | Fluid-Working Machine with Multi-Lobe Ring Cam - A fluid-working machine for a renewable energy generation device, the fluid-working machine comprising a ring cam and a plurality of working chambers, the ring cam having an annular working surface extending around an axis of rotation of the ring cam, the annular working surface defining a plurality of waves, each working chamber having a piston, each piston in operative engagement with the ring cam working surface, the ring cam and working chambers being mounted to rotate relative to each other, cycles of working chamber volume being thereby coupled to rotation of the ring cam relative to the working chambers, characterised in that the individual waves of the ring cam working surface have an asymmetric profile. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120057991 | FLUID-WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING A FLUID-WORKING MACHINE - In a method of detecting a fault in a fluid-working machine including a plurality of working chambers of cyclically varying volume, each working chamber is operable to displace a volume of working fluid which is selectable for each cycle of working chamber volume to carry out a working function responsive to a received demand signal. An output parameter of the fluid working machine, which is responsive to the displacement of working fluid by one or more of the working chambers to carry out the working function, is measured. It is determined whether the measured output parameter fulfils at least one acceptable function criterion, taking into account the previously selected net displacement of working fluid by a working chamber during a cycle of working chamber volume to carry out the working function. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120060684 | FLUID WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING A FLUID WORKING MACHINE - The present invention relates to a fluid working machine comprising a controller and a working chamber, an electronically controllable low pressure valve associated therewith and a fast high pressure valve associated therewith, characterised in that the working chamber has associated therewith a slow high pressure valve for controlling the connection of the working chamber to a secondary high pressure manifold. A fluid working machine according to the invention may be operated to rotate its shaft to a certain position, for example to allow easy maintenance of a wind turbine generator. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120060685 | VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT RADIAL PISTON FLUID WORKING MACHINE - A variable displacement fluid working machine includes an inward ring and an outward ring, one of the inward ring and the outward ring including a rotatable ring cam coupled to a drive shaft, the other including a plurality of radially extending piston cylinders circumferentially spaced around the respective ring. The outward ring has first and second axially spaced structural members and a plurality of demountable blocks demountably retainable therebetween, the demountable blocks having either piston cylinders or ring cam segments. The demountable blocks are removable radially to facilitate maintenance and repair and to facilitate radial access to the inward ring. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063919 | FLUID-WORKING MACHINE VALVE TIMING - A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120260765 | RING CAM AND FLUID-WORKING MACHINE INCLUDING RING CAM - A ring cam for a fluid-working machine is formed from a plurality of segments. The segments have piston facing surfaces together defining a working surface of the fluid-working machine. The segments comprise a leading cooperating formation which has a piston facing surface which forms part of the working surface, at a trailing end, and which is recessed from the working surface at a leading end, and a trailing cooperating formation which has a piston facing surface which forms part of the working surface at a leading end, and which is recessed from the working surface at a trailing end. The cooperating formations interlock and rollers are thereby handed over smoothly from one segment to the next irrespective of slight variations in alignment due to manufacturing tolerance or wear. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120312158 | RING CAM AND FLUID-WORKING MACHINE INCLUDING RING CAM - A ring cam for a fluid-working machine is formed from a plurality of segments. The segments comprise a leading cooperating formation which has a piston facing surface which forms part of the working surface, at a trailing end, and which is recessed from the working surface at a leading end, and a trailing cooperating formation which has a piston facing surface which forms part of the working surface at a leading end, and which is recessed from the working surface at a trailing end. The segments having piston facing surfaces which are in compressive stress such as to partially or fully compensate for tensile stress arising from the action of rollers in use. The segments form a wavelike cam surface and attachment means are provided, through the working surface, on whichever of the leading or trailing surfaces thereof is subject to lowest forces from pistons in use. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130149171 | FLUID-WORKING MACHINE WITH MULTI-LOBE RING CAM - A fluid-working machine for a renewable energy generation device, the fluid-working machine comprising a ring cam and a plurality of working chambers, the ring cam having an annular working surface extending around an axis of rotation of the ring cam, the annular working surface defining a plurality of waves, each working chamber having a piston, each piston in operative engagement with the ring cam working surface, the ring cam and working chambers being mounted to rotate relative to each other, cycles of working chamber volume being thereby coupled to rotation of the ring cam relative to the working chambers, characterised in that the individual waves of the ring cam working surface have an asymmetric profile. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20150211513 | FLUID-WORKING MACHINE VALVE TIMING - A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume. | 07-30-2015 |
