Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Hoag

Kevin L. Hoag 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).

  • Patent number: 11739681
    Abstract: A far square or diamond architecture engine with tumble flow to support spark-ignited fuel usage. The engine may be provided in a configuration generally suited for swirl flow, compression combustion fuel usage. However, the introduction of a unique, replaceable valve head assembly may be utilized to induce tumble flow within a combustion chamber of the engine. Thus, spark-ignited fuel may be utilized without requiring vast overhaul of the engine to accommodate such fuels. Notably, with the addition of such an assembly, diesel fuel may be replaced with natural gas on large scale equipment without the requirement of impractically burdensome or expensive measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Christopher L. Wray, Marc C Megel, Zainal Abidin
  • Patent number: 11655777
    Abstract: An engine with a vertically oriented parallel valve and stem arrangement accommodating tumble flow to support spark-ignited fuel usage. The engine may be provided in a configuration generally suited for swirl flow, compression combustion fuel usage. However, the introduction of a unique, replaceable valve head assembly may be utilized to induce tumble flow within a combustion chamber of the engine. Thus, spark-ignited fuel may be utilized without requiring vast overhaul of the engine to accommodate such fuels. Notably, with the addition of such an assembly, diesel fuel may be replaced with natural gas on large scale equipment without the requirement of impractically burdensome or expensive measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher L. Wray, Zainal Abidin, Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Marc C. Megel
  • Patent number: 11639682
    Abstract: A method of providing a passive ignition pre-chamber for an internal combustion engine. The pre-chamber is typically implemented as a cap on the electrode end of a spark plug and encloses a pre-chamber volume in which fuel is mixed with air to form a consistently ignitable mixture. The pre-chamber is passive in the sense that gas exchange with the engine's main combustion chamber is realized by local flow fields near nozzles into the main chamber and by pressure differences between the pre-chamber and the main chamber. The nozzles are sized such that at least one of the nozzles has a larger diameter than the remaining nozzles, as optimized using flow field and pre-chamber turbulence analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Matthew M. Hoffmeyer, Bansal Shah, Zainal Abidin
  • Publication number: 20230073196
    Abstract: A far square or diamond architecture engine with tumble flow to support spark-ignited fuel usage. The engine may be provided in a configuration generally suited for swirl flow, compression combustion fuel usage. However, the introduction of a unique, replaceable valve head assembly may be utilized to induce tumble flow within a combustion chamber of the engine. Thus, spark-ignited fuel may be utilized without requiring vast overhaul of the engine to accommodate such fuels. Notably, with the addition of such an assembly, diesel fuel may be replaced with natural gas on large scale equipment without the requirement of impractically burdensome or expensive measures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Christopher L. Wray, Marc C. Megel, Zainal Abidin
  • Publication number: 20230077310
    Abstract: An engine with a vertically oriented parallel valve and stem arrangement accommodating tumble flow to support spark-ignited fuel usage. The engine may be provided in a configuration generally suited for swirl flow, compression combustion fuel usage. However, the introduction of a unique, replaceable valve head assembly may be utilized to induce tumble flow within a combustion chamber of the engine. Thus, spark-ignited fuel may be utilized without requiring vast overhaul of the engine to accommodate such fuels. Notably, with the addition of such an assembly, diesel fuel may be replaced with natural gas on large scale equipment without the requirement of impractically burdensome or expensive measures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Christopher L. Wray, Zainal Abidin, Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Marc C. Megel
  • Patent number: 11519356
    Abstract: Combustion engines, and more particularly, integrating a supercritical fluid passageway into a cylinder head and/or cylinder block of an engine, and preferably, a combustion engine. Both a combustion engine system and a method of cooling a cylinder head in an internal combustion engine, utilizing supercritical fluid, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Thomas E. Briggs, Jr., Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Kevin L. Hoag
  • Publication number: 20220170410
    Abstract: A method of providing a passive ignition pre-chamber for an internal combustion engine. The pre-chamber is typically implemented as a cap on the electrode end of a spark plug and encloses a pre-chamber volume in which fuel is mixed with air to form a consistently ignitable mixture. The pre-chamber is passive in the sense that gas exchange with the engine's main combustion chamber is realized by local flow fields near nozzles into the main chamber and by pressure differences between the pre-chamber and the main chamber. The nozzles are sized such that at least one of the nozzles has a larger diameter than the remaining nozzles, as optimized using flow field and pre-chamber turbulence analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Matthew M. Hoffmeyer, Bansal Shah, Zainal Abidin
  • Publication number: 20220128016
    Abstract: Combustion engines, and more particularly, integrating a supercritical fluid passageway into a cylinder head and/or cylinder block of an engine, and preferably, a combustion engine. Both a combustion engine system and a method of cooling a cylinder head in an internal combustion engine, utilizing supercritical fluid, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas E. BRIGGS, JR., Charles E. ROBERTS, JR., Kevin L. HOAG
  • Patent number: 11168605
    Abstract: Heat transfer jackets with various passage configurations for cooling or heating equipment. For the equipment of interest, one or more regions of maximum heat transfer are identified. For these regions, the cooling jacket is configured with at least one of the following heat transfer passage geometries: impinging jets, curved blades, columns, dimpled interface, organic, or turbulator. The passage geometries are then manufactured using additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Christopher L. Wray, Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210340899
    Abstract: A passive ignition pre-chamber for an internal combustion engine. The pre-chamber is typically implemented as a cap on the electrode end of a spark plug, and encloses a pre-chamber volume in which fuel is mixed with air to form a consistently ignitable mixture. The pre-chamber is passive in the sense that gas exchange with the engine's main combustion chamber is realized by local flow fields near nozzles into the main chamber and by pressure differences between the pre-chamber and the main chamber. The nozzles are sized such that at least one of the nozzles has a larger diameter than the remaining nozzles, as optimized using flow field and pre-chamber turbulence analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Matthew M. Hoffmeyer, Bansal Shah, Zainal Abidin
  • Publication number: 20210108552
    Abstract: Heat transfer jackets with various passage configurations for cooling or heating equipment. For the equipment of interest, one or more regions of maximum heat transfer are identified. For these regions, the cooling jacket is configured with at least one of the following heat transfer passage geometries: impinging jets, curved blades, columns, dimpled interface, organic, or turbulator. The passage geometries are then manufactured using additive manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Christopher L. Wray, Charles E. Roberts, JR.
  • Patent number: 10048165
    Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Peter M. Lee, Kevin L. Hoag, Riccardo Meldolesi, Anthony Perkins, John W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20180136080
    Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Peter M. LEE, Kevin L. HOAG, Riccardo MELDOLESI, Anthony PERKINS, John W. MILLER
  • Patent number: 8807099
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes an expander, the expander including an expansion piston received within an expansion cylinder. A compressor includes a compression piston received within a compression cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the compression cylinder. A boosting device providing a 1.7 bar absolute or greater boost pressure level is connected to the intake manifold. An intake valve is disposed between the intake manifold and the compression cylinder. The intake valve closing is timed to provide a compressor volumetric efficiency of 0.75 or greater. A compressor displacement volume is sized relative to an expander displacement volume such that the combination of compressor displacement volume and boost pressure level provides an expander volumetric efficiency relative to ambient conditions that is 0.90 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Branyon, Kevin L. Hoag, Salvatore C. Scuderi
  • Publication number: 20120073551
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes an expander, the expander including an expansion piston received within an expansion cylinder. A compressor includes a compression piston received within a compression cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the compression cylinder. A boosting device providing a 1.7 bar absolute or greater boost pressure level is connected to the intake manifold. An intake valve is disposed between the intake manifold and the compression cylinder. The intake valve closing is timed to provide a compressor volumetric efficiency of 0.75 or greater. A compressor displacement volume is sized relative to an expander displacement volume such that the combination of compressor displacement volume and boost pressure level provides an expander volumetric efficiency relative to ambient conditions that is 0.90 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SCUDERI GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Branyon, Kevin L. Hoag, Salvatore C. Scuderi
  • Patent number: 5469817
    Abstract: A turbulator for a liner cooling jacket includes a metal panel which is suitable to be coiled into a generally cylindrical shape so as to be placed in a relief area between an engine cylinder block and a cylinder liner. The relief area may be machined into either the block or the cylinder liner and the metal panel is formed with a pattern of protuberances shaped like corrugations. In one embodiment, the corrugations have a shape similar to a sine wave and are arranged in a plurality of generally parallel axial segments. The corrugation wave pattern of one segment may be the same as its adjacent segment or may be staggered by one corrugation which would mean one-half of a full wave cycle. The corrugation pattern in the turbulator panel may be created by any one of various stamping or forming operations and when placed between the cylinder liner and block, increases turbulence of the cooling liquid in order to enhance heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Hoag