Patents Assigned to WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
  • Patent number: 11655809
    Abstract: A flange for a pump comprises first and second faces and a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from the first face to the second face and at least one of (1) the passageway is for a pipe and comprises a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter greater than the first diameter, wherein when the pipe has an outer diameter that is smaller than the second diameter a gap is formed between the pipe and the passageway where the pipe passes through the second portion; and (2) a first annular groove in one of the first face and the second face and extending around the passageway, wherein the first annular groove in cooperation with the passageway forms a bellows. The gap and bellows increase the thermal resistance between the passageway and the flange, and the bellows allows for flexure during thermal contractions of the flange reducing thermal stress on welded fluid seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Robbi L. McDonald, Ankur H. Vayeda, Gregory C. Harper, Kenneth W. Kratschmar, Michael Ebbehoj
  • Patent number: 11628387
    Abstract: An improved filter apparatus for a cryogenic fluid includes a filter and a support. The filter includes a mesh having an internal space and an open end. The support is associated with the mesh for maintaining a volume of the internal space above a predetermined value. In operation cryogenic fluid enters the internal space through the mesh and exits the open end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Gage D. Garner, Timothy S. Coleman, Ashish Singh, Brendan J. Elder, Gavin G. Hartnett, Robbi L. McDonald, David Sauve, Cameron G. D. Scott
  • Patent number: 11441509
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine comprises determining direct fuel injector temperature as a function of engine operating parameters; and advancing intake valve timing when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Ning Wu, Mark E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11441736
    Abstract: A multi-vessel fluid storage and delivery system is disclosed which is particularly useful in systems having internal combustion engines which use gaseous fuels. The system can deliver gaseous fluids at higher flow rates than that which can be reliably achieved by vapor pressure building circuits alone, and that keeps pressure inside the storage vessel lower so that it reduces fueling time and allows for quick starts thereafter. The system is designed to store gaseous fluid in liquefied form in a plurality of storage vessels including a primary storage vessel fluidly connected to a pump apparatus and one or more server vessels which together with a control system efficiently stores a liquefied gaseous fluid and quickly delivers the fluid as a gas to an end user even when high flow rates are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Gage D. Garner, Melih Ogmen
  • Patent number: 11326741
    Abstract: A cryogenic storage vessel having an inner vessel defining a cryogen space; an outer vessel spaced apart from and surrounding the inner vessel, defining a thermally insulating space between the inner vessel and the outer vessel; and a receptacle defining passages for delivery of liquefied gas from the cryogen space to outside the cryogenic storage vessel. The receptacle has an elongated outer sleeve defining an interior space in fluid communication with the thermally insulating space that is sealed from the cryogen space; an elongated inner sleeve extending into the interior space defined by the elongated outer sleeve defining an inner receptacle space that is fluidly isolated from the thermally insulating space; and a collar extending around an inner surface of the elongated inner sleeve which seals against a cooperating surface of a pump assembly when a pump assembly is installed in the cryogenic storage vessel thereby dividing a warm end from a cold end of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Robbi L. McDonald, Ankur H. Vayeda, Kenneth W. Kratschmar, Michael Ebbehoj
  • Patent number: 11149693
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for storing a fluid in a storage vessel in liquefied form and delivering it in gaseous form to an end user through a supply line. The system comprises a pressure relief circuit for returning the fluid from the supply line to the vessel when predetermined conditions are met. The pressure relief circuit comprises a return line connected to the supply line and the storage vessel, a diversion line to divert the fluid elsewhere and a switching device operable to direct the fluid to either one of the lines, as a function of predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Kevin K. Oversby
  • Patent number: 11092289
    Abstract: A fluid storage and pressurizing assembly includes a storage receptacle and a pump assembly. The storage receptacle includes an inner vessel defining a cryogen space for storing a fluid at a storage pressure and a cryogenic temperature, an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel, and an insulated space between the inner vessel and the outer vessel, and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a pump immersed in the cryogen space having an inlet for receiving a quantity of fluid from the cryogen space, and an outlet for delivering the fluid therefrom. The pump assembly further includes a pump drive unit for driving the immersed pump, the pump drive unit being at least partially disposed within a space defined by the storage receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Kamal Hatami Aghdam, Davor Baros, Cameron G. D. Scott, Timothy S. Coleman, Samira Barakat-Hamel
  • Patent number: 11053838
    Abstract: Diesel engines modified to be fueled with gaseous fuels experience problems with knocking and pre-ignition, limiting the compression ratio and efficiency of the engine. A new combustion chamber for a gaseous fueled internal combustion engine, in which the combustion chamber is defined by a cylinder head, a bore in a cylinder block and a piston reciprocating in the bore, comprises a piston portion of the combustion chamber defined by a recessed shape in a piston crown; and a head portion of the combustion chamber defined by a recessed surface in the cylinder head. A ratio between the piston portion of combustion chamber volume and the head portion of combustion chamber volume is in a range of 0.7 to 1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Philip C. Millward, William D. Tenny
  • Patent number: 11053866
    Abstract: Hydraulically actuated gaseous fuel injectors required a relatively small pressure bias between hydraulic fluid and gaseous fuel to be able to open and to reduce hydraulic fluid contamination of the gaseous fuel. An improved hydraulically actuated gaseous fuel injector includes an injection valve in fluid communication with a gaseous fuel inlet and includes a valve member reciprocatable within a fuel injector body between a closed position and an open position. There is a lift chamber in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid inlet such that hydraulic fluid pressure in the lift chamber contributes to an opening force applied to the valve member. A control chamber is in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid inlet such that hydraulic fluid pressure in the control chamber contributes to a closing force applied to the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wickstone, David K. Mumford