| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090102386 | Control System for Liquid Motion Lamp - A control system for a liquid motion lamp maintains the proper temperature of liquids within the lamp to provide desired motion within the lamp, and reduces sensitivity to ambient temperature. The lamp preferably includes two heating elements, a first element for initial heating, such as a heat blanket, resistive glass coating, or a submerged ring, and a second heating element generally providing both heat and lighting. A sensor measures the temperature of the liquid inside the lamp and the control system controls the heat sources to maintain the temperature within operating limits. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20110050104 | Thermally Efficient Liquid Motion Lamp - A thermally efficient liquid motion lamp maintains the proper temperature of liquids within the lamp to provide desired motion while using a minimal amount of energy. The lamp includes a submerged heater and a second heater in the base of the lamp, and an efficient non-incandescent light source for illuminating liquids in the lamp. A sensor measures the temperature of the liquids inside the lamp and the control system controls the heaters to first heat the lamp to operating temperature using the submerged heater and to maintain the temperature within operating limits at the base of the lamp using the second heater. The non-incandescent light source is preferably an LED and may be multi-color or an Ultra Violet (UV) LED cooperating with UV dyes in the liquids, but may be any highly efficient light source. The color and intensity of the LED may be controlled to follow music. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110101811 | Reconfigurable Inductive to Synchronous Motor - A reconfigurable electric motor includes rotatable permanent magnets in a rotor, the magnets having a first position producing a weak magnetic field and a second position producing a strong magnetic field. The motor is reconfigurable from an asynchronous induction motor at startup into a synchronous motor for efficient operation. The motor includes a squirrel cage for induction motor operation at startup with the permanent magnets positioned to product the weak magnetic field to not interfere with the startup. When the motor reaches sufficient RPM, the permanent magnets rotate to produce a strong magnetic field for high efficiency synchronous operation. The permanent magnets are magnetically biased to come to rest in the weak magnetic field position and a centrifugal mechanism holds the magnets in the weak magnetic field position until sufficient RPM are reached for transition to synchronous operation. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110101812 | Electric Motor and/or Generator with Mechanically Tuneable Permanent Magnetic Field - Apparatus and method for tuning the magnetic field of brushless motors and alternators to obtain efficient operation over a broad RPM range. The motor or alternator includes fixed windings (or stator) around a rotating rotor carrying permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are cylindrical and have North (N) and South (S) poles formed longitudinally in the cylindrical magnets. The magnets reside in magnetic conducing pole pieces (for example, low carbon or soft steel, and/or laminated insulated layers, of non-magnetizable material). Rotating the cylindrical permanent magnets inside the pole pieces either strengthens or weakens the resulting magnetic field to adjust the motor or alternator for low RPM torque or for efficient high RPM efficiency. Varying the rotor magnetic field adjusts the voltage output of the alternators allowing, for example, a windmill generator, to maintain a fixed voltage output. Other material used in the rotor is generally non-magnetic, for example, stainless steel. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110101814 | Reconfigurable Inductive to Synchronous Motor - A reconfigurable electric motor includes a rotor containing rotatable permanent magnets or non-magnetically conducting shunting pieces. The magnets and/or shunting pieces have a first position producing a weak magnetic field for asynchronous induction motor operation at startup and a second position producing a strong magnetic field for efficient synchronous operation. The motor includes a squirrel cage for induction motor operation at startup with the permanent magnets and/or shunting pieces positioned to product the weak magnetic field to not interfere with the startup. When the motor approaches or reaches synchronous RPM, the permanent magnets and/or shunting pieces rotate to produce a strong magnetic field for high efficiency synchronous operation. The position of the magnets and/or shunting pieces may be controlled by a centrifugal mechanism, or viscous damping may delay rotation of the magnets and/or shunting pieces, or electrically controlled apparatus may control positions of the magnets and/or shunting piece. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110101815 | Electric Motor or Generator with Mechanically Tuneable Permanent Magnetic Field - Apparatus and method for tuning the magnetic field of brushless motors and alternators to obtain efficient operation over a broad RPM range. The motor or alternator includes fixed windings (or stator) around a rotating rotor carrying permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are generally cylindrical and have North and South poles formed longitudinally in the magnets. Magnetically conducting circuits are formed by the magnets residing in magnetic conducting pole pieces (for example, low carbon or soft steel, and/or laminated insulated layers, of non-magnetizable material). Rotating the permanent magnets, or rotating non-magnetically conducting shunting pieces, inside the pole pieces, either strengthens or weakens the resulting magnetic field to adjust the motor or alternator for low RPM torque or for efficient high RPM efficiency. Varying the rotor magnetic field adjusts the voltage output of the alternators allowing, for example, a windmill generator, to maintain a fixed voltage output. | 05-05-2011 |
