Patents Examined by Jason T Newton
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Patent number: 9644553Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the present invention is an internal combustion engine including a supercharger and an EGR device. Further, the internal combustion engine has an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that regulates an amount of air that flows in the ISC passage. A control device of the present invention performs valve opening control that makes an opening degree of the ISC valve an opening degree larger than a reference opening degree when request torque required by the internal combustion engine is smaller than estimated torque that can be generated in the internal combustion engine, and prohibits opening of an EGR valve of the EGR device during execution of the valve opening control.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
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Patent number: 9638095Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLCInventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
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Patent number: 9638067Abstract: A Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system associated with an internal combustion engine is in a configuration that enables handling of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas by using the energy recovered from a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system. The system includes a control module for regulating various function of the internal combustion engine and its associated systems along with the Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.Inventors: Christopher R. Nelson, Timothy C. Ernst
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Patent number: 9624785Abstract: A system for monitoring a health of one or more seals includes a flow control valve, and a controller. The flow control valve is located upstream of the seal and disposed in fluid communication therewith. The flow control valve is configured to maintain a pre-determined fluid pressure between the flow control valve and the seal. The controller is communicably coupled to the flow control valve. The controller is configured to receive a position of the flow control valve, and determine the health of the seal based on the received position of the flow control valve.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Julien Doumecq-Lacoste, Ricardo Montes, Roy T. Collins
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Patent number: 9617855Abstract: A reaction-type turbine according to the present invention is configured in that a portion of a rotary shaft module which penetrates through a side with an inlet portion of a housing has a diameter larger than the diameters of other portions. Thus, the pressurized area in which a working fluid applies pressure to a rotary shaft in the direction opposite to the working fluid flow direction increases, thus increasing force in the direction opposite to the working fluid flow direction. As a result, axial direction force applied to the rotary shaft in the working fluid flow direction may be reduced. Therefore, the reaction-type turbine of the present invention has the advantages of eliminating the necessity of installing a separate thrust bearing for supporting axial force in the working fluid flow direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: HK TURBINE CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Il Chang, Ki Tae Kim, Yong Sik Hah, Jung Hoon Kim
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Patent number: 9612174Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an exhaust gas recirculation valve based on crankcase pressure. In one example, a method comprises indicating a condition of a valve disposed in a first exhaust passage downstream from a cylinder exhaust valve based at least in part on a crankcase pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CorporationInventors: Eric David Peters, Nicholas Eric Hansen
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Patent number: 9611812Abstract: A valve reference position-learning device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of accurately learning the reference position of a valve both before and after the warm-up of the engine, while properly reflecting thereon a deviation of the reference position caused by the thermal elongation of the valve and drive system after the warm-up of the engine. The valve reference position-learning device calculates and updates a learned value of the reference position of the wastegate valve both at and after the start of the engine, by first and second learnings, respectively. The learned value calculated by the first learning is stored as an existing learned value. Further, at the start of the engine, if the calculation of the learned value is not completed, the learned value is set to the existing stored learned value.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaki Ueno, Tsukasa Itou, Kensuke Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Oda, Jun Kato
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Patent number: 9599049Abstract: A target engine speed module selectively sets M target engine speeds for M future times, respectively, based on one of increasing and decreasing an engine speed. A prediction module, based on a set of possible target values for the M future times and a model of an engine, determines M predicted engine speeds for the M future times, respectively. A cost module determines a cost for the set of possible target values based on comparisons of the M predicted engine speeds for the M future times with the M target engine speeds for the M future times, respectively. A selection module, based on the cost, selects the set of possible target values from a group including the set of possible target values and N other sets of possible target values, and sets target values based on the selected set of possible target values. An actuator module controls an engine actuator based on a first one of the target values.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jose C. Zavala Jurado, Joshua D. Cowgill
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Patent number: 9598998Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the invention is applied to an internal combustion engine that is equipped with an exhaust gas treatment device that is provided in an exhaust passage, and a burner device that is provided in the exhaust passage upstream of the exhaust gas treatment device so as to raise a temperature of exhaust gas supplied to the exhaust gas treatment device. The control apparatus performs an increase control for increasing a concentration of oxygen in exhaust gas supplied to the burner device if the concentration of oxygen is not higher than a predetermined required concentration of oxygen when there is a request to operate the burner device. The combustion performance of the burner device is stably ensured by securing or compensating for an insufficient concentration of oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinori Morishima, Kenichi Tsujimoto
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Patent number: 9593580Abstract: A rotor for a Wankel engine including a plurality of ribs extending from a bearing support to each one of the flanks, the plurality of ribs including, for each flank, first and second ribs connected to the flank between the recess and a respective one of the apex portions. The first and second ribs are curved along at least a portion thereof, and/or the first and second ribs are closest to the respective apex portion and connected to the flank adjacent a junction between a portion of the flank defining the recess and a respective portion of the flank connected thereto. A method of reducing pinching of apex seals in a rotor of a Wankel engine is also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Jean-Gabriel Gauvreau, David Gagnon-Martin
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Patent number: 9587571Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises a throttle upstream pressure estimation unit which calculates, based on an AFS intake air amount from an AFS and an intake manifold pressure, an average density ?ave(n) in a region combining a supercharged portion from a downstream of a compressor to an upstream of a throttle valve and an intake manifold, and estimates a throttle upstream pressure based on the intake manifold pressure and the average density ?ave(n). Further, the throttle upstream pressure estimation unit learns a relationship between a throttle opening degree and an effective opening area to correct a throttle upstream pressure estimated value (estimated P2) based on a range of a throttle opening degree learning value, the throttle opening degree learning value, and a dispersion of the actual throttle opening degree error.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Hideki Hagari
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Patent number: 9587590Abstract: An engine control system coordinates control of a pressure regulating mechanism associated with a turbocharger turbine and control of a variable valve actuating (VVA) mechanism for expanding the range of possible exhaust gas recirculation rates over a large portion of an engine operating map to provide EGR rates which are greater than typical present-day levels while mitigating engine pumping losses by causing the turbocharger to operate with better efficiency in some regions of the map where it otherwise would not. Turbocharger efficiency is improved by controlling the VVA mechanism to set the timing of operation of its respective cylinder valves in accordance with a predetermined correlation of operating efficiencies of a compressor to timing of operation of respective engine cylinder valves, causing the compressor to operate at points of better efficiency than it otherwise would without use of VVA.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.Inventors: Laura M. Ricart-Ugaz, Qianfan Xin, Daniel Cornelius
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Patent number: 9581045Abstract: The turbine housing 1 is formed by sheet metal scroll members 5 and 7 butted opposite each other and welded together. A center core part 9 arranged in a central part of the scroll part 3 is integrally formed in one piece from a steel pipe member such as to include a housing portion 93 surrounding a turbine wheel 24, a bearing receiving portion 91 axially supporting the turbine wheel 24, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced supports 92 bridging a gap between the housing portion 93 and the bearing receiving portion 91.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Satomi Nagae, Daigo Watanabe, Motoki Ebisu, Michio Kyoya, Toru Kikuchi
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Patent number: 9567945Abstract: An exhaust circulation apparatus that can improve fuel combustion and suppress discharged NOx by expanding an operating region in which homogeneous lean combustion is possible. The exhaust circulation apparatus includes a homogeneous lean combustion unit for performing homogeneous lean combustion in a predetermined lean-burn region, and an EGR apparatus for performing EGR that recirculates a portion of gas that flows through an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine to an intake system. When performing homogeneous lean combustion, the exhaust circulation apparatus controls the EGR apparatus to perform EGR. An LPL-EGR apparatus that recirculates gas flowing through an exhaust passage on a downstream side of a turbine to an intake passage on an upstream side of a compressor is used as the EGR apparatus. Preferably, an air-fuel ratio is controlled so as to be 22:1 and an EGR rate is controlled so as to be between 10% and 20%.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinichiro Nogawa
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Patent number: 9567942Abstract: Centrifugal turbomachines, such a centrifugal compressors, centrifugal blower, and centrifugal pumps, having unique treatments that enhance their performance ranges. In one arrangement, the treatment involves injecting a relatively high-momentum flow proximate to the blade-tip clearance gap at the inlet to the impeller of the turbomachine in a manner that reenergizes flow at the gap. The injected high-momentum flow can be taken from a location downstream of the outlet of the impeller and/or from a flow external to the turbomachine. In another arrangement, the non-self-bleed-type treatment involves providing the centrifugal turbomachine with a secondary flow path upstream of the inlet to the impeller. In one example, the flow of working fluid to the secondary flow path is modulated according to the mass flow of the working fluid. During times of higher flow, the secondary flow path is opened, and at times of lower flow, the secondary flow path is closed.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Concepts NREC, LLCInventors: Eric M. Krivitzky, Louis M. Larosiliere
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Patent number: 9567926Abstract: The present invention relates to a control unit of an internal combustion engine capable of performing a coordinate control of an exhaust gas recirculation (hereinafter abbreviated as “EGR”) gas supply amount by an EGR apparatus and a supercharging amount by a supercharger provided with a variable flow mechanism. The control unit comprises: a state quantity estimation section for calculating an in-cylinder oxygen excess ratio based on an operating state of the internal combustion engine; and a switching part for switching the respective opening degree commands for the EGR valve and the variable flow mechanism of the supercharger so that the opening degree of the EGR valve and the opening degree of the variable flow mechanism become smaller than in a normal state when the internal combustion engine is determined to be in the transient state based on the calculated in-cylinder oxygen excess ratio.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHSI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Ko Takayanagi
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Patent number: 9567976Abstract: A wind turbine control system includes a wind turbine, a power-converting device connected with the wind turbine, a control device and a human-machine interface. The control device is connected with the power-converting device. The control device includes a storage module having a first database, among which a first control data is stored in the first database. The human-machine interface having a GUI is connected with the control device. A second control data is set through the GUI and stored in the first database, such that the wind turbine is automatically controlled to rotate at a first rotational speed in a first time period and rotate at a second rotational speed in a second time period by the control device according to the first control data and the second control data. Therefore, the safety concerns are reduced, the operations are simplified, and the probable of inputting improper control parameters is eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Cheng-Chieh Chan, Yi-Kuan Hsu, Hsu-Fan Ai
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Patent number: 9562462Abstract: A powertrain waste heat recovery system includes a first powertrain component and a second powertrain component. The powertrain waste heat recovery system also includes a heat recovery circuit circulating a heat recovery fluid through a heat recovery heat exchanger. The heat recovery heat exchanger transfers heat from the first powertrain component to the heat recovery fluid during a powertrain propulsion mode and transfers heat from the second powertrain component to the heat recovery fluid during a powertrain retarding mode. The powertrain waste heat recovery system also includes a conversion device for converting thermal energy from the heat recovery fluid to an energy form other than thermal energy.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.Inventor: Edmond M. Etchason
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Patent number: 9556786Abstract: A turbine housing includes a bore, a wastegate seat and a wastegate passage; a bushing disposed at least in part in the bore; a rotatable wastegate shaft that includes a shoulder and a control end; a control arm operatively coupled to the wastegate shaft where the bushing is disposed between a surface of the control arm and the shoulder; a wastegate arm that extends from the wastegate shaft where the shoulder is disposed between the wastegate arm and the control end of the wastegate shaft; and a wastegate plug that extends from the wastegate arm where the wastegate plug includes a toroidal surface defined by a portion of a torus where, in a closed state, the toroidal surface contacts the conical surface of the wastegate seat to cover the wastegate passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus
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Patent number: 9556745Abstract: A plate closes the main part of a vane in two parts. An internal cavity is closed by the plate. Around a bearing surface of the plate, a groove receives an elastic seal, and the outer edge of the plate extends over the groove to compress the seal and to establish excellent leak proofing. The position of the plate may be guaranteed by centring pins penetrating into holes adjacent to the seal and which it fills when the pins have been removed, which completes the closing of the cavity. The plate has application in particular to stationary gas guide vanes in turbine engines.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2012Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Thierry Georges Paul Papin, Lise Lacroix, Dominique Raulin