| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 060415000 | Accumulator pressurized by gas pump or external gas supply | 18 |
| 20090282822 | Systems and Methods for Energy Storage and Recovery Using Compressed Gas - The invention relates to methods and systems for the storage and recovery of energy using open-air hydraulic-pneumatic accumulator and intensifier arrangements that combine at least one accumulator and at least one intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100018196 | OPEN ACCUMULATOR FOR COMPACT LIQUID POWER ENERGY STORAGE - An accumulator system is configured to store energy and includes an accumulator having a liquid chamber coupled to a liquid port and an air chamber coupled to an air port. The liquid chamber and the air chamber are separated by a moveable isolation barrier. An air motor/compressor coupled to the air port is configured to receive a mechanical input and responsively pump air into the accumulator, and to receive pressurized air from the air port and responsively provide a mechanical output. A liquid reservoir is coupled to the liquid port to receive liquid from the liquid chamber as air is pumped into the air chamber and to provide liquid to the liquid chamber as air is removed from the air chamber. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100107624 | HYDRAULIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM WITH DUAL-POWERED AUXILIARY HYDRAULICS - A power transfer system for a vehicle that comprises a an internal combustion engine, one or more drive wheels, and power transfer apparatus transfers power from the prime mover to the wheels for propelling the vehicle. The system further comprises an auxiliary hydraulic pump that has a drive shaft that coupled to a power take-off unit driven by engine, and to an auxiliary hydraulic motor powered by hydraulic fluid supplied from a hydraulic energy storage device such as an accumulator. As a result, the auxiliary hydraulic pump can be powered by hydraulic fluid from the accumulator when the prime mover is not operating, or by the prime mover when operating. A tandem arrangement of one way clutches can be employed to avoid the need to disconnect the auxiliary hydraulic pump from the prime mover during operation of the auxiliary hydraulic motor, and vice versa. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100192563 | HYDRAULIC ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH ACCUMULATOR AND METHOD OF VARYING CHARGE OF SAME - A method of varying a charge in an accumulator includes providing an accumulator containing working fluid and gas, providing a reservoir containing gas, transferring gas from the reservoir to the accumulator to increase the gas pressure in the accumulator, and transferring gas from the accumulator to the reservoir to decrease the gas pressure in the accumulator. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100307147 | Energy storage system - Energy can be stored by directing fluid into an expandable receptacle that has a relatively heavy mass above it. The fluid fills the receptacle such that it expands and lifts up the heavy mass above it. At a time when energy is needed, the fluid can be allowed to flow out of the receptacle and through a turbine or hydraulic motor to generate power or electricity. Intermittent or unreliable sources of power can be used to fill the receptacle, or power from a power grid can be used to fill the receptacle at times that are off-peak. During peak-load times, the potential energy of the fluid in the receptacle can be converted to power. The receptacle can also be used to control water flows and can provide a source of power and potable water to a community. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100326069 | COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM UTILIZING TWO-PHASE FLOW TO FACILITATE HEAT EXCHANGE - A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110131966 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPRESSED-GAS ENERGY STORAGE USING COUPLED CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES - In various embodiments, a pneumatic cylinder assembly is coupled to a mechanism that converts motion of a piston into electricity, and vice versa, during expansion or compression of a gas in the pneumatic cylinder assembly. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110138797 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING DRIVETRAIN EFFICIENCY FOR COMPRESSED GAS ENERGY STORAGE AND RECOVERY SYSTEMS - The invention relates to power generation and energy storage and recovery. In particular, the invention relates to compressed gas energy storage and recovery systems using staged pneumatic conversion systems for providing narrow pressure ranges to a hydraulic motor. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110225961 | Pressurized Air-Spring Return Cylinder and Pneumatic Intensifier System - A pneumatic cylinder system has a pneumatic supply at a first predetermined pneumatic pressure. A double acting cylinder is operably connected to the pneumatic supply and with a piston reciprocatingly mounted inside for retraction and extension of a piston arm connected to the piston. A high pressure pneumatic reserve chamber stores pneumatic reserve at a second predetermined pneumatic pressure that is higher than the first predetermined pressure. The high pressure pneumatic reserve chamber is operably connected to the double acting cylinder through a valve device such that when the pneumatic supply falls below a third predetermined pressure below the first predetermined pressure, the valve device opens communication between the high pressure pneumatic reserve chamber to a selected side of the double acting cylinder to selectively retract or extend the piston and the attached piston arm. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110247323 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL - Disclosed herein is a system for storing and releasing energy, comprising a generator/motor subsystem; a hydraulic pump for pumping hydraulic fluid between first and second pump ports in response to force applied by the generator/motor subsystem and also capable of imparting force to the generator/motor subsystem in response to hydraulic fluid being caused to flow between the first and second pump ports; a first compression/expansion vessel for exchanging hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic pump via the first pump port; a second compression/expansion vessel for exchanging hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic pump via the second pump port; a gas storage subsystem for selectively storing gas from, or releasing gas to, the first and second gas compression/expansion vessels; an internal heat exchanger within each of the first and second compression/expansion vessels for exchanging heat between the hydraulic fluid and the gas therein, each internal heat exchanger having a very large thermal mass relative to the mass of gas within the first and second compression/expansion vessels; a control subsystem for controlling at least a plurality of gas valves associated with the gas storage subsystem to switch between the storing and releasing, wherein, during storing, responsive to hydraulic fluid being pumped by the hydraulic pump between the first and second pump ports, gas is caused to be compressed in the gas storage subsystem thereby to store energy, and wherein, during releasing, responsive to pressure from release of compressed gas from the gas storage subsystem, hydraulic fluid is forced to flow between the first and second pump ports thereby to release energy. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20120023920 | Device for recovering energy - A device for recovering energy in working machines, with at least one power drive, which can be actuated to move a load mass back and forth, and with an energy storage system ( | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120180471 | COMPRESSED GAS OPERATED INSTRUMENT, IN PARTICULAR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A compressed gas operated instrument incorporating a connector for a compressed gas cartridge to which the compressed gas cartridge is connectable in sealed manner by means of a supply channel for the compressed gas flowing out of the compressed gas cartridge is provided which incorporates a regulating valve in the supply channel for governing the compressed gas stream through the supply channel. The regulating valve comprises a valve body which is sealed in a valve chamber with respect to a wall of the valve chamber by means of a first seal and is mounted in the valve chamber in displaceable manner. The valve body is connected on the upstream side thereof in sealed manner to a connector element by means of a second seal and also be displaceable with respect to the connector element by displacement thereof in the valve chamber. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120240568 | Multiple variable pedaling force energy summator - A system for adding the energy produced by more than one pedaling devices is provided, wherein pedaling force applied to each pedaling device to generate energy is not restricted, and wherein the energy generated by the pedaling devices is summated substantially correctly not only under conditions when the forces applied to the pedaling devices are different, but also under the conditions when the rate of energy produced by the multiple pedaling devices is different comprising more than one pedaling devices | 09-27-2012 |
| 20130047596 | Method for adapting stiffness in a variable stiffness actuator - A method for adapting stiffness in a variable stiffness actuator includes a member configured to transmit motion that is connected to a fluidic circuit, into which a control fluid circulates. The fluidic circuit includes a supply and distribution unit of the control fluid having a reservoir of the control fluid and a pumping unit. The supply and distribution unit includes two distribution lines of the control fluid, which are fluidly connected to the actuator such that an increase and/or decrease in the pressure of the control fluid activates the member that transmits motion. The stiffness of the actuator is adapted by adapting the pressure of the control fluid into the two distribution lines. The present invention includes also a variable stiffness actuator utilizing the above method for adapting stiffness. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20140041374 | PNEMATIC MECHANICAL POWER SOURCE - An mechanical power system provides torque without using a heat engine where fossil-fuel engines have conventionally been used, by replacing the fossil-fuel burning engine with a rotary pneumatic motor and feeding pressure-regulated compressed gas to the rotary pneumatic motor. The rotary pneumatic motor can be used anywhere, and requires preferably compressed nitrogen in a non-liquid state. Automotive, marine and electrical generating applications are adaptable, and auxiliary power is available for emergencies where a supply of compressed gas has been exhausted. A screw-type compressor can be electrically powered to supply compressed gas to the pneumatic motor where tanks of compressed gas have been exhausted. An electrical generating power plant includes an array of solar panels for generating direct current (DC) and a DC/AC converter for converting the DC to alternating current (AC) and outputting a portion of the AC via a power plant output port to supply an AC load. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140150418 | Regenerating Generator - A system for generating and storing energy. The system includes an air motor/compressor for compressing air as liquid compressed air and an electric motor/multi-stage modular generator for driving the air motor/compressor. In addition, the system includes a storage facility for storing the air compressed by the electric motor/multi-stage modular generator as liquid compressed air. The air motor/compressor uses liquid compressed air from the storage facility to drive the multi-stage generator for producing electricity. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140190155 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL - Disclosed herein is a system including a generator/motor subsystem configured to interchangeably impart and receive mechanical force; a stiff DC bus; and power conditioning circuitry electrically connected between the generator/motor subsystem and the stiff DC bus, the power conditioning circuitry conditioning electrical power received from the stiff DC bus to control the angular speed of a rotor of the generator/motor subsystem when imparting mechanical force, and also conditioning electrical power generated for provision to the stiff DC bus by the generator/motor subsystem when receiving mechanical force. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20160107302 | CHARGING SYSTEM FOR HYDRAULIC HAMMER - A charging system for a hydraulic hammer is disclosed. The charging system includes a charge plug. The charge plug is disposed on an opening defined in the wall housing connected to the top end of the power cell of a hammer. The charge plug is fluidly communicated to the chamber via a conduit. The charge plug includes a first compartment. The first compartment is configured to receive a first chemical substance. The charge plug also includes a second compartment. The second compartment is configured to receive a second chemical substance. The first compartment and the second compartment are covered by a membrane. A pressure difference causes collapsing of the membrane to allow the first chemical substance and the second chemical substance is allowed to react with each other. The reaction of the first chemical substance and the second chemical substance pressurizes the air within the chamber to a desired pressure. | 04-21-2016 |
