Patents Examined by Brandon Lee
  • Patent number: 9512764
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for managing ammonia storage in an SCR catalyst. In one example approach, a method comprises, in response to a vehicle-off event, injecting ammonia during a final exhaust blowdown until a predetermined value of ammonia is stored in the SCR catalyst; and in response to a subsequent vehicle-on event when an amount of ammonia stored in the SCR catalyst is less than the predetermined value, injecting ammonia until the predetermined value of ammonia is stored in the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Christine Kay Lambert, David Wynn Philion
  • Patent number: 9494055
    Abstract: The invention provides an exhaust heat utilization device for a combustion engine with an exhaust heat utilization circuit, in which a working medium circulates. An evaporator is arranged in the exhaust heat utilization circuit for evaporating the working medium, which can be supplied with exhaust gas of the combustion engine, with an expansion machine arranged in the exhaust heat utilization circuit downstream of the evaporator for expanding the working medium. A condenser is arranged in the exhaust heat utilization circuit downstream of the expansion machine for condensing the working medium. A delivery device is arranged in the exhaust heat utilization circuit downstream of the condenser for driving the working medium in the exhaust heat utilization circuit and with a heat storage unit. The device is given an improved functionality when the heat storage unit is incorporated in the exhaust heat utilization circuit and can be supplied with working medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Rusche
  • Patent number: 9488054
    Abstract: A method of automatically regulating a power plant (3?) of an aircraft (1), said power plant comprising at least one turbine engine (3), said aircraft (1) having at least one rotary wing (300) provided with a plurality of blades (301) having variable pitch and driven in rotation by said power plant (3?), it being possible for each engine (3) to operate in an idling mode of operation and in a flight mode of operation. During a selection step (STP0), a two-position selector (60) is operated either to stop each engine (3) or to set each engine (3) into operation. During a regulation step (STP1), each engine (3) is controlled automatically so as to implement the idling mode of operation if the collective pitch (CLP) of said blades is less than a threshold and if the aircraft (1) is standing on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Alban Corpron
  • Patent number: 9482166
    Abstract: A method controls a direct-injection gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine system to improve the conversion efficiency of an SCR converter that is operative to reduce levels of NOx. The method comprises detecting when the internal combustion engine is idling and timing the injection of a first quantity of fuel to begin injection when the engine's piston is near top dead center; and controlling the temperature of exhaust gas to be above a predetermined temperature that is defined by an operating temperature range that achieves a desired conversion efficiency for the selective catalytic reduction converter, by: (a) timing injection of the gaseous fuel to begin after timing for injection the first quantity of fuel, and (b) increasing exhaust gas temperature by increasing a delay in timing for injecting the gaseous fuel, while limiting the delay to keep concentration of unburned fuel exiting the combustion chamber below a predetermined concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Sean D. Richardson, Olivier P. M. Lebastard
  • Patent number: 9476334
    Abstract: A working vehicle has a cooling fan provided on a first side of an engine to blow air to the engine; a muffler main body provided on a second side thereof in a position lower than an upper surface of a head cover of the engine; and an exhaust pipe exposed in a position facing an air blowing path of the cooling fan higher than the upper surface of the head cover of the engine to discharge exhaust from the muffler main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tada, Masato Asahara, Yoshihiro Ueda, Eiji Sato, Akira Minoura
  • Patent number: 9470128
    Abstract: An exhaust system is disclosed for use with an engine. The exhaust system may have an exhaust duct, an aftertreatment component disposed within the exhaust duct, and a resistive grid disposed within the exhaust duct at a location upstream of the aftertreatment component. The exhaust system may further have a controller configured to determine a need to heat the aftertreatment component to a threshold temperature, determine a load increase that should be placed on the engine to raise a temperature of exhaust exiting the engine when the aftertreatment component needs to be heated, and determine an amount of electrical power that should be applied to the resistive grid to raise the temperature of the exhaust. The controller may also be configured to selectively implement a combination of engine load increase and application of electrical power to the resistive grid to raise the temperature of exhaust to the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Silvers, Michael B. Goetzke, Reddy Pocha Siva Sankara
  • Patent number: 9470165
    Abstract: A filter regeneration system for an internal combustion engine operable at an engine speed and having: a gas exhaust system for fluidly expelling exhaust gas at an exhaust gas temperature; and at least one filter arrangement in fluid communication with the gas exhaust system and configured to capture particulate in the exhaust gas. The regeneration system includes: a load generating arrangement in operable communication with the internal combustion engine and configured to modify the mechanical load on the internal combustion engine, thereby changing the exhaust gas temperature; and at least one controller in electrical communication with at least a portion of the load generating arrangement and configured to control at least one operating parameter of the load generating arrangement. A method of regenerating a filter arrangement is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Brookville Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 9447722
    Abstract: Various methods for controlling current supply to a wastegate actuator based on temperature are thus provided. In one example, a method for operating a wastegate comprises limiting a boost amount in response to a current limit based on a temperature of a wastegate actuator. The temperature may be an environmental temperature proximate the wastegate actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Patent number: 9429061
    Abstract: A method for metering reducing agent to an exhaust gas treatment device having a feed point and an SCR catalytic converter converting nitrogen oxide compounds in the exhaust gas, includes at least: a) calculating the following target conversion rates indicating what fraction of the nitrogen oxide compounds in the exhaust gas can be converted by the catalytic converter: a first rate determined from the power output of an internal combustion engine; a second rate determined from the mass flow of nitrogen oxide compounds in purified exhaust gas; and a third rate determined from a ratio of quantities of nitrogen oxide compounds upstream and downstream of the catalytic converter; b) selecting the lowest rate; c) determining the dosing quantity of reducing agent for the selected rate; and d) dosing the determined dosing quantity into the exhaust gas treatment device. An exhaust-gas treatment device and a motor vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Peter Bauer
  • Patent number: 9421488
    Abstract: A particle separator for treating the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine includes at least one metallic layer through which exhaust gas can flow. The metallic layer is located in a housing that includes an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a central axis. The housing is provided with at least one inspection or maintenance opening that laterally penetrates the housing and provides a passage through to the metallic layer. The particle separator can, in particular, remain operational without having to be dismantled or can autonomously remain fully open to a flow at all times. A motor vehicle having at least one particle separator is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Joachim Sittig, Michael Voit, Ferdi Kurth, Ludwig Wieres
  • Patent number: 9422844
    Abstract: An exhaust purification device for an engine comprises a catalyst device that purifies the exhaust gas of the engine by using an additive; a venturi-shaped mixing chamber that is disposed upstream from the catalyst device and extends from a taper portion with a diameter tapering downstream to continue to a constricted portion with a minimum diameter and then to a flared portion with a diameter that is increased in the downstream direction; a swirl-generating device that is disposed in vicinity of a most upstream section of the taper portion of the mixing chamber and generates a swirling flow in the exhaust gas; and an additive-injection device that is disposed upstream from the constricted portion of the mixing chamber and downstream from the swirl-generating device, and injects the additive into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK AND BUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuko Suzuki, Hiroaki Fujita, Satoshi Hiranuma, Shinichi Saito, Yoshio Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9416733
    Abstract: A sealing device for passing a connecting rod of a system for controlling a pitch of fan blades of a turboprop through a partition. The device includes a tube for fastening to the partition that is to be sealed, and a frustoconical sheath through which the connecting rod is to pass, the sheath configured to slide axially inside the tube and including, at its wider end, a sealing mechanism co-operating with the tube, and, at its narrower end, a leaktight fastener fastening to a corresponding end of the connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Francois Gallet
  • Patent number: 9416784
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust pump that comprises connecting opening portions that can be deburred easily and that are suitable for enhancing gas evacuation performance. A rotor (a cylindrical rotating member) of an exhaust pump comprises a plate body that has a ring-like projection on a reverse side outer peripheral section of the rotor, and a cylindrical body that is fitted into an outer periphery of the ring-like projection. Connecting opening portions of the exhaust pump comprise holes that are formed by notching an outer peripheral section of the plate body and an outer peripheral section of the ring-like projection, and a portion (specifically, a hole) of the holes that opens in the form of a horizontal hole is covered by an outer-peripheral upper end portion of the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sakaguchi, Akihiro Ito, Akihiko Wada
  • Patent number: 9404408
    Abstract: In an internal-combustion engine exhaust gas system, a storage tank stores the reducing agent, a supply pipe connects the storage tank to a metering unit which introduces the reducing agent into the exhaust gas system. A pump mechanism within the supply pipe conveys the reducing agent. A pressure sensor detects the pressure in the supply pipe downstream of the pump, and a pressure-releasing device has a return pipe connected to the storage tank and comes off the supply pipe. A first valve system is arranged in the supply pipe. A section of the return pipe is located at a higher level than the return pipe to form a storage volume for air present in the supply pipe. A second valve system is arranged in the supply pipe to create, when the second valve system is closed, a storage volume for pressurized reducing agent by way of this pipe branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Bauer, Rainer Bentz, Hermann Ketterl
  • Patent number: 9399962
    Abstract: A method for determining cylinder blow-through air via engine volumetric efficiency is disclosed. In one example, the method provides a way to adjust cylinder blow-through to promote and control a reaction in an exhaust after treatment device. The approach may simplify cylinder blow-through calculations and improve engine emissions via providing improved control of constituents reaching an exhaust after treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dave G. Hagner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, De-Shiou Chen, Amey Y. Karnik
  • Patent number: 9388728
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for diagnosing gain rationality of an NOx sensor that is downstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. Sensor diagnostics are performed while maintaining reductant dosing to the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Archana Chandrasekaran, Xiao Lin
  • Patent number: 9388723
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering liquid reducing agent includes a reducing agent tank. At least a delivery unit, at least one first compensation element, a reducing agent line and a metering unit together have an overall volume to be filled with a reducing agent and are configured for delivering, conducting and metering the reducing agent from the reducing agent tank. The at least one first compensation element is configured for reducing the overall volume when a negative pressure occurs in the delivery device. A method for compensating freezing of a reducing agent in a delivery device and a motor vehicle having a delivery device, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Jan Hodgson, Sven Schepers
  • Patent number: 9388722
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit, a generator, a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device, and a control module. The EHC device includes an electric heater and an EHC catalyst that is heated to an EHC light-off temperature. The generator is selectively operable in a target voltage mode to supply a target voltage to the electric heater. The target voltage represents a voltage required by the electric heater in order to maintain the EHC catalyst at a catalyst temperature. The SCR device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The SCR device is located downstream of the EHC device and includes an SCR catalyst that is selectively heated by the EHC device to a SCR light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 9376948
    Abstract: A method of treating an exhaust gas produced by a vehicle internal combustion engine includes conveying the gas through a first reactor including a non-thermal plasma. The gas includes nitric oxide and is transitionable between a first condition in which the gas has a cold-start temperature that is less than or equal to about 150° C., and a second condition in which the gas has an operating temperature that is greater than about 150° C. During the first condition, the method includes contacting the gas and plasma to oxidize the nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide and form an effluent that includes nitrogen dioxide. The method includes concurrently conveying the effluent through a second reactor including a diesel oxidation catalyst, and storing the nitrogen dioxide within the second reactor during only the first condition. The method includes, after storing, releasing nitrogen dioxide from the second reactor during only the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chang H. Kim, Steven J. Schmieg, Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9359926
    Abstract: A gas treatment device includes an electric discharger, an electromagnetic wave oscillator, an antenna, and a fan. The electric discharger ionizes gas in a target space. The electromagnetic wave oscillator oscillates an electromagnetic wave to be radiated to the target space. The electromagnetic wave is radiated by the antenna toward a gas ionization region in which gas ionized by the electric discharger is provided. The electric discharger ionizes gas and the antenna radiates the electromagnetic wave thereto to generate plasma. The fan moves at least a part of the electric discharger, thereby changing a location of the gas ionization region, thereby moving the location of the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Shigeo Miyake