Patents Examined by Cameron Setayesh
  • Patent number: 8371121
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine wheel, a compressor wheel connected thereto, an electric motor situated on the side of the compressor wheel which is distant to the turbine wheel, and a rotor connected to the compressor wheel in a rotationally fixed manner and designed in a freely projecting manner. A drive system for motor vehicles includes a turbocharger. The turbocharger is characterized by a very spontaneous response behavior, as well as the possibility for energy recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: Lindenmaier AG, SycoTec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Gödeke, Rudolf Löffler, Ralf Heber, Thomas Bischof, Sandra Maier, Oliver Kämpfer
  • Patent number: 8371275
    Abstract: A compressed-air system for supplying a compress-air injection module of a turbocharged internal combustion engine and the pneumatic systems of the vehicle comprises a compressor is provided. The compressor is connected via a line to a pressure accumulator for the supply of a compressed-air injection module and to a device for compressed-air preparation having an air dryer and a pressure regulator for supplying pressure circuits for compressed-air-actuated consumers. The line for supplying the compressed-air injection module branches off upstream of the device for compressed-air preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Gerum, Mathias Mayr, Huba Németh, Michael Herges
  • Patent number: 8356585
    Abstract: A planetary engine includes a charge compression system for compressing a charge of air and/or an air and fuel mixture that is precompressed by rotation of the rotors and supplied into a combustion chamber through a rotary valve that may be actively adjusted during operation of the engine to vary the intake valve opening size and/or timing. Exhaust valves may likewise be actively adjustable rotary valves for further engine control. A compression insert mounted between the end wall assemblies absorbs combustion forces and provides rigidity to the engine, as well as occupies all or nearly all of the volume between the rotors at the minimum volume of the combustion chamber to improve the compression ratio of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Planetary Rotor Engine Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Hathaway, Alex R. Hathaway Shields, David A. Sculthorpe
  • Patent number: 8353159
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least two double action internal combustion cylinders and a separate double action compressor cylinder. Each double action internal combustion cylinder has a multi-point ignition system for each combustion chamber for causing multiple flame fronts to cause the fuel/air mixture to burn more quickly. Furthermore, the engine has a closed heat recovery system that takes heat from the exhaust of the internal combustion cylinder system and delivers power to a crankshaft. Accordingly, the internal combustion engine has increased efficiency by minimizing friction and extracting energy from multiple sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Robert L. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 8327820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel pressure engine, in particular an internal combustion engine which includes an annular structure, a driven shaft running along the annular axis, an annular housing with a housing wall and at least one rotating piston that rotates in the annular housing along a circuit in a sealed manner in relation to the housing. The piston is rotationally fixed to the driven shaft by a connection member and delimits a segment shaped combustion chamber that rotates with the piston, at least on the side lying in the rotation direction when viewed from the combustion chamber. The chamber has connections at given points on the annular housing to a compressed air supply and to an exhaust system. This piston has a piston housing which contains an inner piston which is pushed towards the combustion chamber by a pre-tensioning force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Alois Tradler
  • Patent number: 8322137
    Abstract: In a turbo-charged gasoline engine the opening profile of each intake valve, defined by the opening and closing moments and by the lift, or by the opening stroke of the intake valve, is varied according to the engine operating conditions, so as to reduce or completely eliminate the intervention of a “waste-gate” valve and ensure that in each engine operating condition each cylinder processes only the quantity of air necessary for optimal combustion, with an air/gasoline dosage value close to the stoichiometric ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Alessandro Gallone, Caterina Venezia, Francesco Vattaneo
  • Patent number: 8312718
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbocharged engine includes adjusting turbocharger rotational acceleration or deceleration in response to one or more resonant frequencies. Additionally in some examples, the method may further include increasing turbocharger rotation in response to one or more resonant frequencies during a first condition, and increasing turbocharger deceleration in response to one or more resonant frequencies during a second condition, the second condition different from the first condition. In this way, it is possible to enhance the useful life cycle of the turbocharger and associated engine by limiting the operating time in a resonant frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Huimin Sun, Yong Shu, Dave Hanna, Tim Schram
  • Patent number: 8291703
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine has a gas inlet chamber and a gas flow inlet passage downstream of the inlet chamber and upstream of said turbine wheel. The inlet passage is defined between a moveable first wall and a second wall and an actuator is operable to control displacement of the first wall in order to vary the size of the gas flow inlet passage. A piston member defining the first wall or being connected to it is received in a piston chamber and serves to move the first wall as a result of displacement of the piston member in the piston chamber. A bypass passage defined in the housing and extends between the piston chamber and a location in the turbine upstream of the inlet passage for delivering gas to the piston chamber. The bypass passage is disposed such that gas introduced through the bypass passage pressurizes the chamber and applies a force to displace the piston member in a direction that causes the first wall to move towards the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edward Garrett, John Frederick Parker
  • Patent number: 8276378
    Abstract: A method of controlling a turbocharger for an engine and a control system for the same includes a variable nozzle turbine control module operating a variable nozzle turbine of a high pressure turbocharger closed loop in a first load-engine speed region. The system also includes a high pressure turbine bypass valve control module operating a high pressure turbine bypass valve in a closed position in a first load-engine speed region. The variable nozzle turbine control module operates a variable nozzle turbine closed loop in a second load-engine speed region between the first load-speed region and a third load speed region. The high pressure turbine bypass valve module operates the high pressure turbine bypass valve in a transient region in the second load-engine speed region. The variable nozzle turbine control module operates the variable nozzle turbine open loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: B. Jerry Song, Ping Ge, Zhiping Steven Liu, Anupam Gangopadhyay
  • Patent number: 8266884
    Abstract: A device and method that converts the high temperature produced by combustion into a fluid volume of high pressure gas without requiring a boiler or heat exchanger. By injecting a fluid directly into a combustion system, heat energy that may otherwise be wasted is converted directly into high pressure gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Baker
  • Patent number: 8261549
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for recirculation of exhaust gases of a supercharged combustion engine. The arrangement comprises an exhaust line intended to lead exhaust gases out from the combustion engine, an inlet line intended to lead air to the combustion engine, a compressor adapted to compressing the air in the inlet line to above atmospheric pressure, and return line which connects the exhaust line to the inlet line. The arrangement comprises an EGR cooler in which the recirculating exhaust gases in the return line are cooled by the air in a portion of the inlet line which is situated upstream of the compressor with respect to the direction of flow of the air in the inlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Scania CV AB (Publ)
    Inventors: Zoltan Kardos, Hans Wikström
  • Patent number: 8250866
    Abstract: A turbocharged, diesel engine has a small catalyst provided upstream of the turbocharger with EGR collected from the exhaust stream downstream of the catalyst and upstream of the turbocharger. By making the catalyst small, it packages into a pipe coupling the manifold to the turbocharger, readily reaches lightoff, and absorbs little exhaust energy, thereby providing acceptable conversion of hydrocarbons and CO, but still allowing fast turbocharger response. In one embodiment, the engine has two cylinder banks, two exhaust manifolds, and two pre-turbo catalysts installed upstream of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Christopher Oberski, Christopher Cowland, Patrick Sexton
  • Patent number: 8250864
    Abstract: A method is for controlling the torque of a hybrid drive unit, which includes a combustion engine and at least one electric machine capable of being operated alternatively as a motor or as a generator. The electric machine, when operated as a motor, is powered by an energy storage device and supplies a positive electric motor torque which together with a combustion engine torque of the combustion engine produces a total drive torque of the hybrid drive unit. A hybrid drive unit includes a respective torque control. In the event that a desired torque is greater than a consumption-optimized combustion engine maximum torque, the electric machine is operated as a motor having an electric motor torque. An electric motor maximum torque is specified as a function of at least one state parameter of the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz, Michael Zillmer, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 8245511
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and hard point associated with the cylinder block. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to an engine, as well as internal oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Cowland, Patrick Sexton, Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Anthony William Hudson
  • Patent number: 8234865
    Abstract: In order for automobile exhaust catalysts to function they must be at operational temperatures. When an engine starts from cold the vehicle, including the exhaust system and any after-treatment device located therein, is at ambient temperature. Since 60% to 80% of the total emissions emitted occur at engine cold start and idle up to 120 seconds, it is imperative that the catalyst function as fast as possible. This invention provides a passive thermatically controlled bypass valve to enable the exhaust flow to bypass the enthalpy loss incurred by driving the turbine wheel of a turbocharger, and thus more rapidly deliver heat to the catalyst or after-treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: David Andrews
  • Patent number: 8234867
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and the hard point associated with the cylinder block. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to an engine, as well as oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure. An internal, isolated, turbocharger oil drainback passage conducts waste oil from the turbocharger to a crankcase sump without permitting the waste oil to contact the engine's moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Patrick Sexton, Christopher Cowland
  • Patent number: 8225608
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain for a vehicle is provided. The powertrain includes an engine boosted by a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a first motor-generator mounted with respect to the turbocharger, and arranged to selectively assist acceleration of the vehicle by driving the turbocharger, to provide regenerative charging of an energy storage device and to be idle, as its modes of operation. The powertrain additionally includes a second motor-generator mounted with respect to the powertrain, and arranged to selectively assist acceleration of the vehicle, to provide regenerative charging of the energy storage device and to be idle, as its modes of operation. A controller responsive to sensed vehicle operating parameters is arranged on the vehicle for controlling and coordinating the modes of operation of the first motor-generator and of the second motor-generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ko-Jen Wu, Jian Jun Zhang, James C. Elmslie
  • Patent number: 8220263
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can generate exhaust pressure pulsation at an early period while suppressing the degradation of volumetric efficiency, when a request to enhance the exhaust pressure pulsation is made in the internal combustion engine which includes a variable valve mechanism that makes variable a valve overlap period, and a variable nozzle type turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terutoshi Tomoda, Shinobu Ishiyama, Tomoyuki Ono, Koichiro Nakatani, Tomoyuki Kogo, Katsuhiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8220264
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a first and a second cylinder bank. The first and second cylinder banks are arranged such that they have less than a 180 degree included angle with respect to one another, thereby forming an inboard region or generally V-shaped cavity. A respective first and second cylinder head is mounted with respect to the first and second cylinder bank. Integrated within the first and second cylinder head is a first and second integrated exhaust manifold, respectively. The first and second integrated exhaust manifolds are provided on the engine in an “inboard” orientation, i.e. disposed on a side of their respective cylinder heads such that they are substantially adjacent to the generally V-shaped cavity. The first and second integrated exhaust manifold may operate to convey exhaust gases from the engine to at least one turbocharger, which is mounted substantially within the generally V-shaped cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Arvan, Charles E. Freese, V
  • Patent number: 8215113
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger with a utility pedestal extending between the turbocharger and a mounting surface associated with the engine. The utility pedestal includes a mounting pad for attaching the combined turbocharger and pedestal assembly to the engine, as well as internal oil and coolant supply passages for supplying the turbocharger with coolant and lubricating oil under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony William Hudson, Patrick Sexton, Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Christopher Cowland