Patents Examined by Jason T Newton
  • Patent number: 10041416
    Abstract: A system for providing a seal between a combustor and a turbine vane. The system includes a flange configured to extend radially from the combustor, and a seal. The flange includes a flange surface configured to face in an axial direction toward a surface of the vane. The seal is configured to be axially loaded between the flange surface and the surface of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Low, Joey Wong
  • Patent number: 10012139
    Abstract: A supercharger-equipped combustion engine includes a crankshaft extending in a widthwise direction of a vehicle supported by a crankcase and a supercharger disposed above the crankcase. Power from the crankshaft is transmitted through a supercharger transmission to the supercharger. A crankcase body has an opening formed to be opened at the right side in the widthwise direction, and at least a part of the opening is covered with a holder detachably mounted on the crankcase body. The supercharger transmission includes input and output shafts extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and the input and output shafts are rotatably supported at first end portions thereof at the right side by first bearing portions formed in the holder and are rotatably supported at second end portions thereof at the left side by second bearing portions formed in a side wall of the crankcase body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Tanaka, Yoshiharu Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10012137
    Abstract: Methods are provided for identifying degradation in components of a compressor recirculation valve (CRV). One method includes differentiating between degradation of a throttle of the CRV and a position sensor of the CRV based on each of a throttle inlet pressure and commanded position of the throttle of the CRV. The method also includes utilizing output from the position sensor of the CRV in response to the commanded position of the throttle of the CRV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Baitao Xiao, Hamid-Reza Ossareh
  • Patent number: 10012101
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a seal system for a passage between a turbine stator and a turbine rotor, including: a first arm extending radially outwards from the turbine rotor and toward the first seal arranged on the stator, and terminating short of the first seal thereby creating a first gap between the first seal and the first arm. The seal system further includes a second seal arranged on the turbine stator, and a second arm extending axially from the turbine rotor towards the second seal base, and terminating short of the second seal thereby creating a second gap between the second seal and the second arm. The invention further refers to a gas turbine including such a seal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Carlos Simon-Delgado, Christoph Didion, Marc Widmer, Martin Schaefer, Guenter Filkorn
  • Patent number: 10012148
    Abstract: A method of purging a combustor is provided. The method includes opening an isolation valve configured to regulate a flow rate of a fluid sent to at least one fuel nozzle of a combustor. The method also includes opening a control valve located upstream of the isolation valve after opening the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve and the control valve are located within a fluid supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Eugene Selfridge, Joshua Adam Bagwell
  • Patent number: 10012151
    Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas turbine system includes adjusting an angle of a plurality of inlet guide vanes of an exhaust gas compressor of the EGR gas turbine system, wherein the plurality of inlet guide vanes have a first range of motion defined by a minimum angle and a maximum angle, and wherein the angle is adjusted based on one or more monitored or modeled parameters of the EGR gas turbine system. The method further includes adjusting a pitch of a plurality of blower vanes of a recycle blower disposed upstream of the exhaust gas compressor, wherein the plurality of blower vanes have a second range of motion defined by a minimum pitch and a maximum pitch, and the pitch of the plurality of blower vanes is adjusted based at least on the angle of the plurality of inlet guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Carl Thatcher, James A. West, Aaron Lavene Vorel
  • Patent number: 10006288
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement of an axial turbine. Thereto, the present invention includes a submerged turbine 100 in which a fluid is filled in an interior thereof. The present invention also includes a colliding turbine 200 for ejecting a fluid with a high pressure to rotate blades. The structure of the turbine according to the present invention includes a submerged turbine, a colliding turbine, or a combination type turbine (in which a submerged turbine and a colliding turbine are combined). Accordingly, quality and reliability of the product are significantly improved to satisfy the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Hyuk Sun Choi
  • Patent number: 10006352
    Abstract: A turbocharger wastegate assembly includes a turbine housing that includes a chamber and a bore where the bore includes a bore diameter; a bushing that includes a bushing bore, an exterior end, an interior end, a bushing bore diameter, an exterior surface diameter; and a monoblock wastegate that includes a shaft, a shoulder, an arm and a plug, where the shaft includes a shaft diameter that is less than the bushing bore diameter, where the shoulder includes a diameter that is greater than the bushing bore diameter and where, in an assembled state, the interior end of the bushing is disposed in the chamber and the exterior end of the bushing is disposed in an exterior space and where the interior end of the bushing and the shoulder of the monoblock wastegate contact to limit axial movement of the monoblock wastegate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus
  • Patent number: 10006340
    Abstract: A supercharger comprising a series of parallel rotors disposed within adjacent compartments within the housing of the supercharger. The rotors are designed to physically compress air that is drawn into the system in a gradual, linear manner, rather than in a stepped manner as is common to most conventional superchargers, in order to reduce the amount of energy loss to thermal energy and reduce the stress imparted upon the system via the compression of the air. The rotors comprise a shaft and a helical thread. The diameter of the shaft increases and the pitch of the helical thread decreases from the position of the inlet of the chamber in which the rotor is disposed to the position of the outlet of the chamber in which the rotor is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: John Malcolm Gray
  • Patent number: 10006349
    Abstract: Various methods for operating a wastegate are provided. In one example, a method of controlling a linked valve actuator system comprises adjusting the actuator near an end stop based on a learned uncertainty end stop region, the region based on operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Luehrsen, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 10006383
    Abstract: In a control device and method for an internal combustion engine with a supercharger, a first/second temperature sensor and a first/second air pressure sensor are respectively provided on an upstream/downstream side of a supercharging path from a compressor to a throttle valve. A control portion calculates an inflow air mass to the supercharging path and an outflow air mass from the supercharging path, calculates a throttle upstream air mass in a high operational load state from those air masses, calculates a throttle upstream air mass in a low operational load state from outputs of the first temperature sensor and the first air pressure sensor, selects either one of the throttle upstream air masses depending on an operational load state of the engine, and calculates a throttle upstream pressure based on the upstream air mass selected and a second temperature detected by the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Michihisa Yokono, Hideki Hagari
  • Patent number: 10006350
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine that includes a turbosupercharger, an electric supercharger, and a waste gate valve configured to open and close an exhaust bypass passage. In a single-supercharging range in which an engine torque is less than a torque boundary value, a WGV opening degree is controlled so as to decrease accompanying an increase in the engine torque. Further, in a twin-supercharging range in which the engine torque is equal to or greater than the torque boundary value, the WGV opening degree is controlled so as to increase accompanying an increase in the engine torque, and the electric motor is actuated for supercharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masakazu Tabata, Sho Tomita
  • Patent number: 10006338
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises during a first mode, decreasing a volume of a charge air cooler in response to a compressor operation upstream of the charge air cooler. In this way, compressor surge may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Andrew Wade, Jason Eugene Devries, Charles A. Cockerill, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Patent number: 10006719
    Abstract: A tube bundle heat exchanger having a straight-tube configuration, comprising a pressure vessel, a straight-tube bundle comprising a number of straight tubes which are arranged so as to be guided through an inlet tubesheet and an outlet tubesheet and to extend through the interior space of the pressure vessel. A cooler for gas turbine cooling air comprising a tube bundle heat exchanger, a gas turbine power plant and a gas and steam turbine power plant comprising a cooler for gas turbine cooling air according to the invention, as well as a process gas cooler and a method for the cooling of cooling air using such a cooler for gas turbine cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Telgen, Tim Staggenborg, Jens Blossey, Dirk Band, Ricardo Fiorenzano de Albuquerque, Igor Ivanov, Wolfgang Hegner
  • Patent number: 10006359
    Abstract: A rotary engine including an insert in one of the walls of the outer body. The insert has a pilot subchamber defined therein communicating with the internal cavity and includes a subchamber wall surrounding the pilot subchamber. A main fuel injector is in communication with the internal cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. A pilot fuel injector is in communication with the pilot subchamber. A heating element extends within the subchamber wall completely outside of the pilot subchamber, in heat transfer communication with the subchamber wall. An outer body for a rotary engine and a method of combusting fuel in a rotary engine are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michael Gaul, Andre Julien, Bruno Villeneuve
  • Patent number: 10006354
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a dual flow turbocharger includes an annular support with at least one tongue-like end wherein the annular support is adjustable in a translational fashion along the turbines axis of rotation. Moving the annular support influences the degree of separation behavior of turbine channels by varying a tongue spacing to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Matthias Kindl, Norbert Andreas Schorn, Vanco Smiljanovski, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Andreas Kuske, Joerg Kemmerling
  • Patent number: 10006289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reactive turbine apparatus that is easy to assemble. To this end, the reactive turbine apparatus includes: a rotation shaft formed of a certain length; a housing defining an inner space so as to be rotatably coupled to the rotation shaft, having an inlet formed through one side thereof through which working fluid can enter, and having an outlet formed through the other side thereof so that working fluid can be discharged to the outside; and at least one rotation unit disposed in the housing and coupled to the rotation shaft, disposed in a lengthwise direction of the rotation shaft, and rotating the rotation shaft by means of the working fluid that enters from the inlet of the housing and is discharged, wherein working fluid is prevented from leaking between the peripheral surface of the at least one rotation unit and the inner surface of the housing during the rotation of the rotation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: HK TURBINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Tae Kim, Young Il Chang, Jung-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10006314
    Abstract: A device for recovering the waste heat energy having a Clausius-Rankine circuit with a line system conveying a working medium via which at least one vaporizer for vaporizing the working medium, an expansion device for expanding the vaporized working medium to produce mechanical work, a condenser for fluidizing the vaporized and expanded working medium as well as a delivery pump for condensing and conveying the working medium through the line system are fluidically connected to one another. A compensation tank supplies additional working medium volume and is connected to a fluid line and can be fluidically separated from the line system via a valve that is controllable via a control device connected to a sensor for detecting working medium temperature and/or pressure, such that a working medium volume is transferred from the compensation tank into the line system or from the line system into the compensation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Lutz, Giovanna Motisi, Richard Bruemmer
  • Patent number: 10006321
    Abstract: An engine variable camshaft timing phaser (10) includes a sprocket (12) and a planetary gear set (14). The sprocket (12) receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. The planetary gear set (14) includes two or more ring gears (34, 36), multiple planet gears (32), a sun gear (30), a first set of teeth (82), and a second set of teeth (40, 62). One of the ring gears (34, 36) can be connected to the sprocket (12) and one of the ring gears (34, 36) transmits rotational drive output to an engine camshaft. The sun gear (30) engages with the planet gears (32) and is driven by an electric motor (38). In order to bring the planetary gear set (14) to a locked condition, the first set of teeth (82) and the second set of teeth (40, 62) are mated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Simpson, Michael Close, Thomas Benner
  • Patent number: 10006341
    Abstract: A compressor assembly is disclosed. The compressor assembly may have a compressor housing. The compressor assembly may also have a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing. Further, the compressor assembly may have a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing. The compressor assembly may also have a diffuser ring disposed between the compressor housing and the bearing housing. In addition, the compressor assembly may have at least one tab. The tab may extend radially outward from the diffuser ring. The tab may be configured to engage with a recess in the compressor housing. The compressor assembly may also have at least one fastener. The fastener may be configured to attach the diffuser ring and the compressor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Annati, Robert C. Lancaster, David R. Adair