Kenneth J Eakman

57265607, Mar 10, 1998

Sep 1, 1995

8/522612

Kenneth J. Eakman - Oregon IL
Mike Andres - Rockford IL
Lance Miller - Rockford IL
Nicholas F. Campagna - Menomonee Falls WI

Barber-Colman Company - Loves Park IL

H02P 940

322 89

A switched reluctance generator that can be used in an air cycle machine, where the generator uses the energy from the shaft of the air cycle machine to provide a back-up power supply to the magnetic bearings supporting the shaft. The generator includes circuitry for comparing the non-commutated excitation current with a command signal to regulate the excitation current, thereby regulating the generator output voltage.

56274211, May 6, 1997

Oct 28, 1994

8/331306

Lance F. Miller - Rockford IL
Kenneth J. Eakman - Oregon IL

Barber-Colman Company - Loves Park IL

H02K 709

310 905

A plurality of electromagnetics in an array surround a shaft, with current controlled in the coils of the electromagnets to support the shaft at a desired position approximately centered between the electromagnets. Shaft position sensors provide feedback to a control system for modulating the current to the electromagnet coils, which are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the shaft. A drive circuit for each coil includes first and second switching transistors which connect the coil to the power supply to transfer a current pulse to the coil. A pair of circulating diodes begin conducting when the transistors turn off, and return power to the supply. A control circuit for the drive circuits interleaves on and off intervals for the coils in the electromagnet pairs so that one coil of the pair is being switched off at about the same time as the other coil of the pair is being switched on. The result is that the energy being returned to the power supply by the off-turning coil is diverted, at least in part, to the on-turning coil, thereby to reduce net current drain from the power supply.

57148180, Feb 3, 1998

Oct 18, 1994

8/325045

Kenneth J. Eakman - Byron IL
Terry L. Coons - Dayton IL
Michael Andres - Rockford IL
Lance F. Miller - Rockford IL

Barber-Colman Company - Loves Park IL

H02K 709

310 905

A backup bearing for use with magnetic bearings to support a rotating shaft in the event that the magnetic bearings fail due to the loss of electric power. The backup bearing includes a housing and a fluid film bearing element which is adapted to passively float in the housing and with the shaft during normal operation of the magnetic bearings and which is adapted to support the rotating shaft on a film of fluid if the magnetic bearings fail.

20180316295, Nov 1, 2018

Apr 28, 2017

15/581059

- Charlotte NC, US
Kenneth J. Eakman - Rockford IL, US

H02P 9/14

A method of regulating a generator output voltage by a generator control unit is provided. The method comprises receiving, by the generator control unit, communication signals from a bus power control unit identifying a specific electrical load. The method also comprises altering, by a voltage regulator of the generator control unit, a set point. The method also comprises implementing, by the voltage regulator, a linear change of the set point. The method also comprises matching the generator output voltage to the set point. The method also comprises providing the generator output voltage to the specific electrical load based on an operation of a contactor.