Parker-hannifin Corporation

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

Bayer Materialscience Ag

Amber Kinetics, Inc.

Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.

Stangenes Industries, Inc.

Roger Nelson Hitchcock

Silmon James Biggs

Jonathan R Heim

Ilya Polyakov

Otto Hui

Chris A Weaber

Gordon Russell

Thomas Kridl

Michael G Lipton

Seth Robert Sanders

Matthew Kurt Senesky

Alireza Zarrabi

Mark J Holloway

Peter Thomas Tennessen

Edward Young Chiao

Kyle B Gaiser

Keenan William Rodewald

Michael J Marziale

Greg Olsen

Darlene W Conolly

Lance W Thompson

Trao Bach Ly

Xina Quan

Daniel Bakholdin

Mikyong Yoo

Fang Yuan

Alrieza Zarrabi

Thomas A Kirdl

Peter Vasilnak

The invention is a flywheel rotor that includes a number of adjacent laminations, stacked one on top of another, where each of the laminations has the same shape and is rotationally symmetric around a center axis, and where the shape is substantially circular and includes a plurality of protrusions exterior to the circumference, and each of the laminations includes at least one hole for a fastening bolt to pass through. The invention typically includes an endplate at each end of stack of laminations. One of the two endplates may attach to a stubshaft.

Stacked lamination rotor

The invention is a flywheel rotor that includes a number of adjacent laminations, stacked one on top of another, where each of the laminations has the same shape and is rotationally symmetric around a center axis, and where the shape is substantially circular and includes a plurality of protrusions on the circumference, and each of the laminations includes at least one hole for at fastening bolts to pass through. The invention typically includes an endplate at each end of stack of laminations and one of the two endplates attaches to a stubshaft.

A flywheel energy storage system includes a flywheel housing that encloses a flywheel rotor, a motor/alternator, and a power electronics unit. The power electronics unit includes a power electronics housing directly mounted on the flywheel housing, and one or more power electronic circuits enclosed by the power electronics housing. The direct mounting of the power electronics housing on the flywheel housing enables thermal distribution for passive cooling purposes. The design of the flywheel energy storage system also reduces the vibrational forces imparted by the power electronics housing on the flywheel housing.

Power electronics housing and packaging for flywheel energy storage systems

An apparatus includes a substrate, a dielectric elastomer transducer electrically coupled to the substrate, and a compliant electrically conductive housing coupled to the dielectric elastomer transducer. A portion of the compliant electrically conductive housing projects through an opening defined in a housing. A method is disclosed for making the apparatus.

Rolled and compliant dielectric elastomer actuators

A dielectric elastomer transducer comprising a first and second ends and first and second electrical terminals connected to the respective first and second ends of the dielectric elastomer transducer is provided. A system also includes a substrate, a conductive flexure with one end attached to the substrate and another end configured to receive a load. A first electrical connector pin is attached to the flexure to receive the first electrical terminal and a second electrical connector pin is attached to the substrate to receive the second electrical terminal. Another system also includes a living hinge flexibly coupling two separate substrates, where at least one of the substrates is movable in response to energizing the dielectric elastomer transducer.

Electrical interconnect terminals for rolled dielectric elastomer transducers

The present invention provides flexible polymer diodes in the form of a printable polymer sandwich configuration similar to that found in electroactive polymer transducers. The inventive flexible polymer diodes comprise a dielectric layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. With appropriate optional additives introduced in the electrode formulation and the proper electrical properties in the electrode, a device may be constructed which allows current to pass through for only one polarity of applied voltage.

Polymer diode

A method for fabricating electroactive polymer transducers, the includes providing an electroactive polymer film comprising an elastomeric dielectric polymer, forming an array of electrodes on the film, and sandwiching the electrode array between a top and bottom array of frame components to form an array of electroactive polymer transducers.

Method of manufacturing electroactive polymer transducers for sensory feedback applications

Electroactive polymer transducers for sensory feedback applications are disclosed.

Electroactive polymer transducers for sensory feedback applications

Method for fabricating electroactive polymer transducer

Circuits for shortening a rise time of a load include a main pulse transformer coupled to a load, an auxiliary pulse transformer coupled to the load, and a diode connected between the auxiliary pulse transformer and the main pulse transformer. The main pulse transformer delivers a main pulse to the load. The auxiliary pulse transformer delivers an auxiliary pulse to charge the capacitance associated with the load. The diode isolates the auxiliary pulse transformer from the main pulse. By charging the capacitance in this manner, a rise time of the main pulse is shortened and ringing of the main pulse on the load is reduced.

Circuit for compensating rise times and ringing in high impedance loads

A clamping assembly for use in conjunction with high voltage solid state devices. The clamping assembly includes a clamp frame having upper and lower clamping plates substantially composed of aluminum and joined together by four dielectric rods composed of glass laminate material. The clamping assembly further includes a compression assembly mounted in the upper clamping plate and including several spring washers disposed in a recess defined by the upper clamping plate. The position of a compression cap attached to the upper clamping plate by eight cap screws can by adjusted by way of the cap screws so as to compress, or deflect, the spring washers. The spring washers in turn exert a compressive force that is a function of the spring constant k of the spring washers as well as of the distance over which the spring washers are compressed by the compression cap. The compressive force thus generated is transmitted to a pivot ball seated in a recess collectively defined by the spring washers. A force distribution member defines a socket in which the pivot ball is partially received and transmits the compressive force to a stack which is disposed between the upper and lower clamping plates and includes semiconductor devices and heat sinks. The socket in the force distribution member permits the force distribution member to rotate with respect to the pivot ball so that the compression surface of the force distribution member automatically moves to a position wherein the compression surface is in substantial contact with the upper surface of the stack, notwithstanding any horizontal misalignment of the stack. As a result of the substantial contact between the compression surface and the upper surface of the stack, the compressive force is distributed substantially uniformly across the upper surface of the stack.

Clamping assembly for high-voltage solid state devices

A coupling circuit for charging a pulse forming network (PFN) or capacitor load to a precise voltage is disclosed. The coupling circuit is connected to a DC input voltage source. The circuit includes a charging transformer, having an input winding connected in series with a switch circuit and the DC voltage source. The output winding of the charging transformer is connected to the PFN or capacitor load. A charging inductor is placed in series with the output winding. A control circuit monitors and calculates the total amount of energy present at the load and the charging inductor, and causes the switch circuit to open when the total charge reaches a predefined level, thereby allowing charge stored in the inductor to be transferred to the PFN or capacitor load.

Circuit for coupling energy to a pulse forming network or capacitor

A switching circuit for selectively discharging energy from a pulse forming network (PFN) or capacitor in the form of pulses is described. The switching circuit is comprised of a high power solid state switch configured to selectively discharge energy from the PFN or capacitor to the input of a transformer. Disposed between the PFN and the transformer is a magnetic assist switch, which improves the operating characteristics of the solid state switch. Directly connected to the magnetic assist switch is a reset bias circuit, which provides a reset bias signal and improves the operating characteristics of the assist switch. The same circuit, connected to a turn of the assist switch, also provides a bias reset signal to the transformer, thereby eliminating the need for additional bias circuitry for that component.

Magnetically assisted switch circuit

A line type modulator for modulating an RF power device in a medical linear accelerator is described. The modulator employs a low voltage DC power source and a flyback transformer. Current sensing circuitry senses current in the primary winding of the flyback transformer and generates a current sense signal indicative thereof. A solid-state switching stage is coupled between the DC power source and the flyback transformer which electrically connects and disconnects the DC power source and the primary winding in response to a control signal. Control circuitry coupled to the current sensing circuitry and the switching stage generates the control signal in response to the current sense signal. The anode of a charge diode assembly is coupled to the secondary winding of the flyback transformer. A delay element is coupled to the cathode of the charge diode assembly. A pulse forming network is coupled to the delay element and generates an energy pulse. A solid-state switch assembly is also coupled to the cathode of the charge diode assembly and discharges energy stored in the pulse forming network via the delay element in response to a trigger signal. A pulse transformer coupled to the pulse forming network delivers the energy pulse to the RF power device.

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San Leandro, CA, United States of America

Roger Nelson Hitchcock