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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8104274 | Increased power in compressed-gas energy storage and recovery In various embodiments, energy is stored or recovered via super-atmospheric compression and/or expansion of gas in conjunction with substantially adiabatic compression and/or expansion from or to atmospheric pressure. ... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8046990 | 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.... | 11/01/2011 |
| 7963110 | Systems and methods for improving drivetrain efficiency for compressed gas energy storage In various embodiments, systems for providing a constant electrical output from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system include a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outl... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7900444 | 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 g... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7832207 | 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 g... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7315089 | Powertrain system comprising compressed air engine and method comprising same A powertrain system comprises a compressed air supply apparatus, a compressed air engine, a rotary power conversion apparatus and an electrical power conversion apparatus. The compressed air engine is configured for extracting energy from compressed air. The compres... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7207174 | Apparatus for use with pneumatic device A control valve assembly has a first chamber with a first port, a second chamber with a second port, and a first valve that is operative to open between the first and second chambers in response to elevated pneumatic pressure in the first chamber. A second valve is ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7155367 | Method for evaluating relative efficiency of equipment The current invention is a computer implemented method of evaluating relative efficiency of equipment by constructing a mathematical model of the operation of the equipment, calculating a distance between an actual operating point and the mathematically obtained opt... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7118472 | Control system for pneumatically-powered door installation A mine door installation has a frame installed in a mine passageway. At least one door leaf is mounted on the frame for swinging movement between open and closed positions. Movement of the door leaf is powered by a pneumatic actuator. A pneumatically-powered control... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7114431 | Fluid powered apparatus for operating a mechanism during an emergency An apparatus includes a reservoir of a pressurized fluid connected to a supply conduit. A fluid powered actuator has a first port and an second port. A volumetric flow regulator has a valve element that controls fluid flow between an inlet chamber which receives flu... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7065456 | Tool monitoring system and method A transducer is provided in communication with a power supply of a powered tool for detecting power consumption associated with powered and non-powered operational states and generating a power consumption signal. A measuring implementation is provided for receiving... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7017342 | Air compressor and control method therefor An air compressor includes a tank unit storing a compressed air used by a pneumatic tool, a compressed air generator which generates the compressed air and supplies the compressed air to the tank unit, a motor driving the compressed air generator, a drive portion in... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7004060 | Balancing vertical load device for a motor A balancing vertical load device for a motor, to be used in conjunction with a vertical driving device with a force- and position-controlled motor, comprising a motor assembly and a sealed air pressure system. The motor assembly has a motor, and a load weight which,... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6963802 | Method of coordinating and stabilizing the delivery of wind generated energy The invention relates to a method of coordinating and stabilizing the delivery of wind generated power, such as to a power grid, so as to avoid sudden surges and spikes, despite wind speed fluctuations and oscillations. The method preferably uses a plurality of wind... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6860103 | Multiple-compressor system having base and trim compressors A multi-compressor system is described, which includes a fluid distribution system, a base compressor set, a flow controller, a trim compressor set, and a trim volume. The multi-compressor system provides compressed fluid to a load device set. The fluid distribution... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6676083 | Method of releasing stores from an ejection rack A method of ejecting or jettisoning stores from an aircraft is disclosed that pertains essentially a method of supplying the gas storage system with compressed gas that has a pressure-to-temperature ratio that ensures proper jettisoning of stores under al... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6639211 | Contrast-enhanced MRA including an effective zero-latency method of bolus detection To generate a magnetic resonance angiograph, a patient is injected with a contrast-enhancing agent (210). An ellipsoidal central portion of k-space (300) and a first surrounding region (310) are continuously sampled (220). A portion of each central data s... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6519938 | Recording and controlling pneumatic profiles The pneumatic power system of this invention is a process that measures at very high resolution the pressure and/or rate of flow profile at various points throughout the pneumatic circuitry of a piece of pneumatic equipment in a manufacturing environment.... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6279315 | Pneumatic unlocking and closing apparatus A pneumatic unlocking and closing apparatus for doors has a soft braking phase at each end position. The apparatus includes a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit having a working chamber acting on a large piston area and a return chamber acting on a piston are... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6082105 | Drive device for medical appliances A medical-appliance driving apparatus is provided. The driving apparatus includes a first pressure sensor, which detects the inside pressure of a first positive pressure tank, and a second pressure sensor, which detects the inside pressure of a second neg... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6059346 | Device for opening and closing trunk lid A device for opening and closing a trunk lid comprises: a trunk lid opening/closing switch operated between an opening mode and a closing mode; a cylinder having one end rotatably fixed to a body panel; a piston dividing a space within the cylinder into a... | 05/09/2000 |
| 6038856 | Governor for air compressors of vehicles A governor for air compressors of vehicles, that serves to control additional devices, especially energy-saving devices. From an inlet connection supplied from the compressed air supply, a pilot valve designed as a round slide valve with a small cross sec... | 03/21/2000 |
| 5797262 | Drive circuit for fluid operated actuator having high and low pressure reservoirs In order to obtain a fluid pressure drive circuit which is capable of reusing a compressed gas by cyclic recirculations, a closed circuit is formed by and through a compressor 2, a low pressure tank 13 connected to an intake end 2b of the compressor 2, a ... | 08/25/1998 |
| 5775101 | Refueling device with feedback-controlled auxiliary drive A refueling cart, for refueling large aircraft at a major airport having pressurized fuel hydrants at loading/unloading aprons, includes auxiliary facilities on the refueling cart that are usually powered by compressed air that is obtained from compressed... | 07/07/1998 |
| 5724811 | Optimized gas-based transmission A gas-based transmission which has a self-regulating mechanical advantage that is continuously--and, essentially, infinitely variable. A high-pressure reservoir receives either exhaust gas from an engine or air from a compressor that is run by the drive s... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5685697 | Combined check valve and pressure sensor A check valve, for use in a vacuum accumulator. The check valve includes a movable gate, which blocks fluid flow. The gate carries a first electrical contact, which mates with a second electrical contact, when the gate closes, thereby issuing a signal whi... | 11/11/1997 |
| 5632146 | Load shaping compressed air system This invention is a load shaping system which increases the energy efficiency of a compressed air system by eliminating activation of a trim compressor in response to a momentary increase in demand for compressed air. The load shaping system includes a lo... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5515676 | Vacuum pump motor control apparatus and method of operation thereof An apparatus and method for controlling an electrically driven vacuum pump (16) for a motor vehicle provides that below a predetermined level of vacuum (approaching atmospheric pressure) the pump (16) runs at a first speed, and above that level of vacuum ... | 05/14/1996 |
| 5467595 | Valve means Valve system for a vehicle gas suspension system having a central chamber (41) to which pressurized gas is admitted via valve 50 or from which pressurized gas is exhausted via valve 51. Interposed in gas communication paths between the central chamber and... | 11/21/1995 |
| 5460239 | Air compressor based vehicle drive system A vehicle drive system fueled by a source of compressed air includes a main air motor connected with and adapted to drive a vehicle wheel, a combined rotatable flywheel-impeller assembly acting in turbine fashion during a charge-up phase to spin-up with c... | 10/24/1995 |
| 5438829 | Air compression system having two separate compressed air accumulators An air compression system for supplying a compressed air into a pneumatically operated tool. The system includes an air compressor and air accumulator connected to the compressor and having a first accumulator and a second accumulators separate therefrom.... | 08/08/1995 |
| 4730999 | Negative pressure supply apparatus for automobiles The vacuum tank is connected to an engine intake manifold, and a vacuum pump generates compulsarily a negative pressure so as to maintain the negative pressure at a predetermined setting pressure value. The vacuum pump has a diaphragm pump for discharging... | 03/15/1988 |
| 4504081 | Check valve in pressure control circuit An integrated valve unit for a pressure control circuit which comprises a case, a drier wholely contained in the case, and a check valve formed and positioned in an inlet of the case having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the... | 03/12/1985 |
| 4481768 | Pneumatic control system for machines A pneumatic control system for machines that provides precise incremental or continuous direction, position, velocity and acceleration control of a variety of machine functions, such as rotary or linear motions, tool positioning and the like. A compressed... | 11/13/1984 |
| 4461315 | Pressure protection system A pressure protection system including a valve for isolating an auxiliary fluid circuit from a main fluid circuit when a leak occurs in the auxiliary fluid circuit. A valve is connected between a governor controlled compressor and the main fluid circuit a... | 07/24/1984 |
| 4124978 | Compressed air engine A compressed air engine having specially designed cylinder heads and piston configurations in order to reduce friction and maximize the application of air from a pressurized air source. The disclosure includes a lubrication system whereby the mechanical p... | 11/14/1978 |
| 3948343 | Constant supply of vacuum or pressure for vacuum or pressure operated or assisted systems in vehicles A vacuum or pressure unit to be incorporated in a vacuum or pressure system of a vehicle which operates, or assists in the operation of, at least one vehicle component, the vacuum or pressure unit comprising a pump in fluid communication with the vacuum o... | 04/06/1976 |
| 3934413 | Air flow control unit for engine secondary air supply In a system for delivering air from an air pump to an exhaust system and accessories for an internal combustion engine, an air flow control unit has a high pressure relief valve, an outlet open to the exhaust system, a vent open to the atmosphere and an o... | 01/27/1976 |
