# US 12,113,460 B2 · Electrostatic machine system and method of operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,460 B2 - Document ID: US12113460B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/293,223 - Filed: 2019-09-12 - Published: 2021-12-16 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-13 - Assignees: C-Motive Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: C-Motive Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Graham T. Reitz; William D. Butrymowicz; Baoyun Ge; Justin K. Reed; Daniel C. Ludois - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113460B2 ## CPC - H02N 1/08: with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines - H01B 3/20: liquids, e.g. oils (silicone oils H01B3/46) - H01B 3/441: {from alkenes} - H01B 3/445: {from vinylfluorides or other fluoroethylenic compounds} - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) ## Abstract An electrostatic machine includes a drive electrode and a stator electrode. The drive electrode and the stator electrode are separated by a gap and form a capacitor. The drive electrode is configured to move with respect to the stator electrode. The electrostatic machine further includes a housing configured to enclose the drive electrode and the stator electrode. The stator electrode is fixed to the housing. The electrostatic machine also includes a dielectric fluid that fills a void defined by the housing, the drive electrode, and the stator electrode. The dielectric fluid includes a ketone, malonate, or an oxalate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrostatic machine comprising: a drive electrode and a stator electrode separated by a gap and forming a capacitor, wherein the drive electrode is configured to move with respect to the stator electrode; a housing configured to enclose the drive electrode and the stator electrode, wherein the stator electrode is fixed to the housing; and a dielectric fluid that fills a void defined by the housing, the drive electrode, and the stator electrode, wherein the dielectric fluid comprises a ketone, an oxalate, or a malonate, wherein the ketone is of formula R1—C(O)—R2, wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or C2-C30 alkenyl group and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or C2-C30 alkenyl group; the oxalate is of formula wherein: R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C30 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or C2-C30 alkenyl group and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or C2-C30 alkenyl group; and the malonate is a compound of formula R1OC(O)C(R6)(R7)C(O)OR2, wherein: R6 and R7 are individually H or alkyl, wherein at least one of R6 or R7 is alkyl, and R1 and R2 are individually a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or C2-C30 alkenyl group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the malonate is a compound of formula R1OC(O)C(R6)(R7)C(O)OR2, wherein at least one of R6 or R7 is alkyl, and R1 and R2 are individually a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl or C2-C30 alkenyl group. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the malonate is a compound of formula R1OC(O)C(R6)(R7)C(O)OR2, wherein at least one of R6 or R7 is alkyl, and R1 and R2 are individually a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C24 alkyl or C2-C24 alkenyl group. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the malonate is a compound of formula R1OC(O)C(R6)(R7)C(O)OR2, wherein at least one of R6 or R7 is alkyl, and R1 and R2 are individually a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl or C2-C12 alkenyl group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C10 alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 alkenyl group; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C3 alkyl group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C18 aralkyl group; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl group. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the ketone is of the formula: wherein: R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 alkenyl group; R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 alkenyl group; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 alkenyl group. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrostatic machine of claim 7, wherein R3 is a C1-C10 alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C8 alkenyl group. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electrostatic machine of claim 7, wherein R4 is a C1-C3 alkyl group; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the ketone is 4,5-dimethylheptan-2-one, 2,8-dimethylnonan-5-one, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1 comprising the oxalate, wherein the oxalate comprises diphenyl oxalate and derivatives thereof, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1 comprising the malonate which is selected from the group consisting of diethyl methyl malonate, diethyl ethyl malonate, dibutyl methyl malonate, dibutyl ethyl malonate, and derivatives thereof, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, further comprising a current sourced inverter configured to convert direct current power into alternating current power via a plurality of switches, wherein the current sourced inverter is configured to provide the alternating current power across the drive electrode and the stator electrode, and wherein no passive electrical components are electrically connected between the drive electrode, the stator electrode, and the plurality of switches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, further comprising a voltage sourced inverter configured to convert direct current power into alternating current power via a plurality of switches, wherein a plurality of inductors is electrically connected between the drive electrode, the stator electrode, and the plurality of switches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the drive electrode comprises a drive plate, and wherein the stator electrode comprises a stator plate, and wherein the drive plate and the stator plate are parallel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrostatic machine of claim 15, wherein the drive plate comprises a plurality of teeth around a periphery of the drive plate, wherein the stator plate comprises an annulus with a plurality of teeth extending from an inside circumference of the annulus, and wherein the teeth of the drive plate and the teeth of the stator plate form the capacitor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one of polypropylene, acetal, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene, polyetherimide, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The electrostatic machine of claim 1, wherein the dielectric fluid further comprises a drag reducing agent selected from the group consisting of poly-isobutylene, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamide, polysaccharides, surfactants, solid particle suspensions, and a combination of any two or more thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrostatic machine of claim 18, wherein the drag reducing agent is incorporated in the dielectric fluid from 1 to 1000 ppm.