Lawrence H Howes

US Patent:

7002259, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Aug 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/224108

Inventors:

Lawrence H. Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US
Amir S. Mikhail - Santa Barbara CA, US
Geoff F. Deane - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc. - Carpenteria CA

International Classification:

H02P 9/04

US Classification:

290 4C, 290 6, 290 7, 322 10

Abstract:

A controller for high torque, low RPM wind turbines and ocean current turbines. The turbine consists of a large, input power shaft-mounted, rotating bull-gear with stationary powertrains mounted around its periphery. The gear teeth on the bull-gear rotate past the teeth on pinions, causing the pinions to turn and delivering power to each smaller powertrain. A controller regulates torque experienced by each powertrain to assure that torques are balanced between generators at any given system load. The control method comprises the programmatically continuously looping steps of measuring a system parameter to be controlled, such as torque and/or speed, selecting the optimal number of generators to be connected/disconnected to a utility line, incrementally connecting or disconnecting generators to achieve the point of optimal performance, measuring the parameters, such as current and/or voltage, of the connected generators and adjusting the generator parameters to fine tune the system for optimal performance.

US Patent:

7042110, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Feb 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/773851

Inventors:

Amir S. Mikhail - Santa Barbara CA, US
Kevin L. Cousineau - Lompoc CA, US
Lawrence H. Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US
William Erdman - Orinda CA, US
William Holley - Pleasanton CA, US

Assignee:

Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc. - Carpenteria CA

International Classification:

H02P 9/00
F03D 7/00
F03D 9/00
G05D 11/00
H02J 3/00

US Classification:

290 44, 290 55, 290 40 C

Abstract:

A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier and an inverter are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system. A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.

US Patent:

7578278, Aug 25, 2009

Filed:

Oct 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/246049

Inventors:

William R. Peitzke - Montecito CA, US
Lawrence Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US
Matt Brown - San Diego CA, US
James G. P. Dehlsen - Montecito CA, US

Assignee:

Gyroton Corporation - Carpinteria CA

International Classification:

F02B 53/00
F02B 57/00
F01C 1/00
F04C 18/00
F04C 2/00

US Classification:

123241, 123 43 C, 123 43 R, 123243, 418264

Abstract:

A rotary engine with multiple pivotally mounted lobes desmodromically extendible and retractable from a rotor to trace asymmetric volumes for inlet and compression and expansion and exhaust based on the contour of the engine case which the lobes sealingly engage.

US Patent:

7686870, Mar 30, 2010

Filed:

Dec 29, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/618393

Inventors:

Geoffrey Frank Deane - Goleta CA, US
Lawrence Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US
Brenton Alan Taylor - Kenwood CA, US

Assignee:

Inogen, Inc. - Goleta CA

International Classification:

B01D 53/02

US Classification:

96115, 96130, 12820512, 12820527

Abstract:

An oxygen concentrator system that includes or can be expanded to include more than one compressor is provided. The system utilizes a controller that is adapted to selectively activate or deactivate one or more of the compressors to optimize system performance and efficiency. Multiple compressors can be selected to operate at the same time, thereby enabling the system to operate at a higher peak pressure, increase the recovery of the PSA cycle, and expand the product rate. The additional compressors can also be removed when not in use so as to reduce weight of the system. In some implementations, the system housing reserves a certain amount of space for accommodating additional compressors and related components, which can be added to the system as after market parts. In other implementations, the additional compressor can be located external to the system.

US Patent:

20030090257, May 15, 2003

Filed:

Oct 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/004124

Inventors:

Lawrence Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US

International Classification:

G01R001/00

US Classification:

324/127000

Abstract:

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for load testing electrical systems using a transformer having its primary windings connected to a power source and its secondary windings coupled to the device under test. The test apparatus may be used to test high power switching circuits to be implemented in three-phase power systems. One aspect of the invention involves eliminating the load resistor or load bank, which is normally used to simulate the working load when testing AC switching devices. In one embodiment, the load bank function is replaced by the secondary winding of a step-down transformer, and the voltage across the device under test is boosted using a second power source. In another embodiment, the primary current of the transformer is controlled to regulate the current in the device under test.

US Patent:

20060090759, May 4, 2006

Filed:

Jun 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/170743

Inventors:

Lawrence Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US
Geoffrey Deane - Goleta CA, US
Brenton Taylor - Kenwood CA, US
Chung-Ming Li - Goleta CA, US

International Classification:

A61M 16/00
A62B 7/04

US Classification:

128204210, 128204260

Abstract:

In an embodiment, the invention is an improved interface to a conserver for therapeutic gas delivery. The improved circuit allows for fine control of the frequency response of a feedback element, which permits a high gain interface. The result is excellent compensation of transducer drift with little distortion of the frequencies of interest for breath detection, even for low breath pressure scenarios.

US Patent:

6933705, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Feb 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/359874

Inventors:

Lawrence H. Howes - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

Chipper Windpower Technology, Inc. - Carpenteria CA

International Classification:

H02P009/10

US Classification:

322 29, 322 47, 322 32, 322 28, 322 25

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of stator voltage control for an induction generator. Each phase of the induction generator stator is connected through a secondary coil of a transformer to a utility grid. A stator voltage control circuit is connected in parallel with a primary coil of the transformer. The stator voltage control circuit consists of an on/off switch device connected to a full wave rectifier comprised of four silicon diodes. A single pulse width modulation (PWM) control is utilized to control the on/off switch devices of each phase of the induction generator stator.