Patents by Inventor Alvin Lowi, Jr.
Alvin Lowi, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6668809Abstract: An improved, internal combustion, reciprocating engine employs thermal regeneration to improve its efficiency and power. Regeneration is accomplished through the use of an alternating flow heat exchanger. In one embodiment the engine consists of one or more cylinders containing a pair of opposed pistons, a hot piston and a cold piston separated by a stationary regenerator. The engine is equipped with means to introduce gaseous or liquid fuel into said hot volume, means to introduce fresh working fluid and means to remove exhaust gases from the cold volume. In one embodiment one or more exhaust ports permitting the flow of exhaust fluid out of the cylinder are located between a cold piston and the thermal regenerator and one or more intake ports permitting the flow of fresh working fluid into the cylinder are located between the cold piston and the exhaust ports. The engine can provide greater expansion than compression and can provide critical and substantial improvements over previous engines.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Inventors: Alvin Lowi, Jr., Allan J. Ferrenberg
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Patent number: 6279520Abstract: An engine structure and mechanism that operates on various combustion processes in a two-stroke-cycle without supplemental cooling or lubrication comprises an axial assembly of cylindrical modules and twin, double-harmonic cams that operate with opposed pistons in each cylinder through fully captured rolling contact bearings. The opposed pistons are double-acting, performing a two-stroke engine power cycle on facing ends and induction and scavenge air compression on their outside ends, all within the same cylinder bore. The engine includes a novel compressor arrangement having an intake valve comprising a V-shaped double reed valve with an apex pointing toward the intake port and an exhaust valve having a V-shaped double reed valve with an apex pointing away from the exhaust port. The compressor arrangement may further include rectangular intake and exhaust ports, a rectangular piston rod and rectangular crosshead bearings.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 6089195Abstract: An engine structure and mechanism that operates on various combustion processes in a two-stroke-cycle without supplemental cooling or lubrication comprises an axial assembly of cylindrical modules and twin, double-harmonic cams that operate with opposed pistons in each cylinder through fully captured rolling contact bearings. The opposed pistons are double-acting, performing a two-stroke engine power cycle on facing ends and induction and scavenge air compression on their outside ends, all within the same cylinder bore. The engine includes a novel novel combustion chamber configuration comprising a semi-torus formed by a peripheral relief provided around the outer perimeter of each piston crown. This arrangement leaves a large central surface or squish land on each piston crown permitting a small piston clearance to be used for the purpose of generating a strong, radially-outward flow (squish) as the pistons approach each other in their cyclic motions.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 5938124Abstract: An axi-symmetric injection nozzle has an inner body with a tapered bore, an adjustment screw, and an outer tube. A seat lip is machined on the outside perimeter of the outer extremity of the inner body. A head lip is machined on the outer perimeter of the adjustment screw head which engages the tapered bore in the outer extremity of the inner body. When the adjustment screw is tightened the head lip swages the seat lip radially outward, contacting the inner surface of the outer tube to form a fluid seal between inner body and outer tube. Further flexural deflection of the thin cylindrical section of inner body containing seat lip in a radially outward direction by tightening adjustment screw not only closes the annular passage between the inner body and the outer tube but wedges the seat lip against the outer tube forcefully to elastically deflect the outer tube radially and establish a pre-load tensile stress in the outer extremity of outer tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1998Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 5799629Abstract: An engine structure and mechanism that operates on various combustion processes in a two-stroke-cycle without supplemental cooling or lubrication comprises an axial assembly of cylindrical modules and twin, double-harmonic cams that operate with opposed pistons in each cylinder through fully captured rolling contact bearings. The opposed pistons are double-acting, performing a two-stroke engine power cycle on facing ends and induction and scavenge air compression on their outside ends, all within the same cylinder bore. The engine includes a novel intake/exhaust valve configuration, a novel combustion chamber configuration and a novel external piston rod alignment structure comprising a cam follower assembly including a pair of needle roller bearings riding in longitudinal grooves machined in the cam follower body.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 5740782Abstract: An improved, full-authority, digital-electronic-controlled cylinder fuel injection system for internal combustion engines is conceived that utilizes positive displacement metering and electrohydraulic actuation with pressure amplification, positive feedback control and self cooling. The injectors operate from a relatively low pressure common rail fuel supply that may be fed by either pumping or from a pressurized fuel tank. The injectors incorporate self cooling passages that enable continuous operation independent of engine cooling, if any. The injectors comprise a stepped piston freely oscillating in a cylindrical housing providing an actuation chamber at the large end and a metering cup and injection nozzles at the other. A third chamber is provided in between for handling a degree of piston leakage and ullage.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1996Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 5507253Abstract: An engine structure and mechanism that operates on various combustion processes in a two-stroke-cycle without supplemental cooling or lubrication comprises an axial assembly of cylindrical modules and twin, double-harmonic cams that operate with opposed pistons in each cylinder through fully captured rolling contact bearings. The opposed pistons are double-acting, performing a two-stroke engine power cycle on facing ends and induction and scavenge air compression on their outside ends, all within the same cylinder bore. The engine includes a control system which utilizes twin barrel cams with adjustable axial and angular positions enabling independent compression ratio and port phasing variation during operation. The engine control system comprises one or more electrohydraulic servos to set and maintain the axial and angular relationships of the cams either at extreme positions or controlled to particular positions and schedules thereof utilizing instantaneous piston position feedback information.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1994Date of Patent: April 16, 1996Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 5375567Abstract: An engine structure and mechanism that operates on various combustion processes in a two-stroke-cycle without supplemental cooling or lubrication comprises an axial assembly of cylindrical modules and twin, double-harmonic cams that operate with opposed pistons in each cylinder through fully captured rolling contact bearings. The engine may comprise one or more pairs of axially symmetric cylinder modules which with their opposed pistons perform perfectly balanced reciprocating and rotary motions at all loads and speeds. The opposed pistons are double-acting, performing a two-stroke engine power cycle on facing ends and induction and scavenge air compression on their outside ends, all within the same cylinder bore.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1993Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 4694802Abstract: A system for mixing fumigation fuel with the intake air in a compression ignition engine includes a variable area venturi in an engine intake air duct to draw controlled amounts of a pre-mixed fumigation fuel/air mixture into the main air stream in proportion to the amount of suction created downstream of the variable area venturi by the engine air flow. The variable area venturi creates a pressure depression proportional to the engine air flow motivating the fumigation fuel/air mixture to flow into the engine along with the main air stream at a rate related to the engine load and speed. The variable area venturi includes a housing having a downstream branch connected to a conventional demand-type mixer which is supplied with the fumigation fuel via a demand-type regulator, and air through a filter from the atmosphere. The variable area venturi is formed by a spring-loaded, normally closed flapper valve which variably opens in response to air drawn through the housing by the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1984Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 4342200Abstract: An improved engine cooling system is combined with a jet-driven heat pump system for utilizing otherwise wasted heat from an engine to produce refrigeration and heating of cabin, charge air and other media without requiring additional shaft power from the engine. In a closed cycle, vaporized refrigerant fluid is conveyed via jet ejectors from the engine cooling jacket at a high pressure and temperature and from refrigerant evaporators at low pressures and temperatures to a radiator/condenser at an intermediate pressure and temperature. The greater portion of condensed refrigerant fluid is pumped back to the engine (boiler) and the balance is throttled into the evaporators (heat exchangers) to produce an evaporative cooling effect. The vapor resulting therefrom is evacuated by the ejectors and returned to the condenser/radiator.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1979Date of Patent: August 3, 1982Assignee: Daeco Fuels and Engineering CompanyInventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 4302488Abstract: A cellulose fiber insulation, a manufacturing method and a plant for practicing the method. Waste paper is pulverized in a hammermill apparatus to provide a quantity of cellulose fiber particles which are air conveyed past a fog-type injection nozzle where the particles are wetted with a solution of fire and/or pest resistant and corrosion inhibiting chemicals. The wetted particles are thereafter air conveyed away from the nozzle with heated exhaust air from the hammermill apparatus to dry the particles prior to depositing them in a storage bin. The air by which the particles are conveyed may be exhausted through a filter to catch residual particles which may be returned to the storage bin or directly to the process. The sprayed solution may be prepared by a batch process or by counterflow percolation of heated liquid upward through a bed of soluble fire-retardant chemical. The concentration of chemical in the resultant saturated solution may be regulated by a thermostatic control system.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1978Date of Patent: November 24, 1981Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.
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Patent number: 4164850Abstract: An improved engine cooling system is combined with an automotive air conditioning system for utilizing otherwise waste heat from an engine to vaporize refrigerant fluid which is condensed and pumped back to the engine in a closed cycle. In a cooling mode, vaporized refrigerant is conveyed via a jet ejector to the automobile radiator, a condensed portion of the refrigerant fluid being drawn by the ejector through a throttling valve and a conditioner air coil to provide evaporative cooling. In a heating mode, the vaporized refrigerant is conveyed directly to the conditioner air coil, which then serves as a condenser to provide condensation heating. The partially condensed refrigerant is further condensed at the radiator and then pumped back to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1975Date of Patent: August 21, 1979Inventor: Alvin Lowi, Jr.