U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Michigan

Michigan Inventor Develops Patent for Self-adjusting Wind Turbine Generator Blade ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 26 -- Guixian Lu, Pontiac, Mich., has developed a patent (8,021,114) for a "self-adjusting wind turbine generator blade." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A self-adjusting blade for wind turbine generator or windmill will change width of blades according to wind speed to optimize efficiency. The windmill comprises a brace, rib tubes, cylinders, cylinder holders, hose holders, non-movable shells, and movable shells. The movable shells and rib tubes are organized like extendable antennas of portable radios. The movable shells are moved and held by cylinders. There are sets of hose holder for hoses and wires for cylinders. A micro-controller controls cylinders to move the movable shells according wind speed."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The specification discloses a locking threaded fastener including a body, a coil spring, and a compression ring. The body is hex-shaped and defines a partially threaded bore, an external circumferential groove, and a passage extending radially between the bore and the groove. The coil spring is located within the bore and includes a first end angularly fixed with respect to the body and a second end extending through the passage and into the groove. The compression ring is located within the groove and defines an opening receiving the second end of the coil spring. The compression ring is free to move within the groove and includes portions that extending radially outwardly beyond the flats of the hex shape. When a conventional wrench is engaged with the hex shape, the wrench compresses the compression ring to prevent relative angular movement between the ring and the body. The "locked" compression ring thereby prevents relative angular movement between the second end of the coil spring and the body."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting mechanisms include clutches and a brake. The torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members of the planetary gear sets with at least another one of the first members, second members, third members of the planetary gear sets, and the stationary element. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member."

GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, has been assigned a patent (8,021,257) developed by Michael D. Foster, Carmel, Ind., Jy-Jen F. Sah, West Bloomfield, Mich., and Peter E. Wu, Brighton, Mich., for a "hydraulic clutch control system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A transmission includes two blocking valves that control fluid pressure to a plurality of clutches. The blocking valves are characterized by a plurality of states that result in at least three transmission operating conditions. Each of the three operating conditions is characterized by fluid pressure being unavailable to at least one of the clutches."