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).
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Patent number: 11739681Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Christopher L. Wray, Marc C Megel, Zainal Abidin
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Patent number: 11655777Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Inventors: Christopher L. Wray, Zainal Abidin, Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Marc C. Megel
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Patent number: 11639682Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Matthew M. Hoffmeyer, Bansal Shah, Zainal Abidin
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Publication number: 20230073196Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Christopher L. Wray, Marc C. Megel, Zainal Abidin
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Publication number: 20230077310Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Christopher L. Wray, Zainal Abidin, Kevin L. Hoag, Anthony S. Perkins, Ian P. Gilbert, Marc C. Megel
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Patent number: 11519356Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Thomas E. Briggs, Jr., Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Kevin L. Hoag
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Publication number: 20220170410Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2022Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Matthew M. Hoffmeyer, Bansal Shah, Zainal Abidin
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Publication number: 20220128016Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2021Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Thomas E. BRIGGS, JR., Charles E. ROBERTS, JR., Kevin L. HOAG
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Patent number: 11168605Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Christopher L. Wray, Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210340899Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Matthew M. Hoffmeyer, Bansal Shah, Zainal Abidin
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Publication number: 20210108552Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Kevin L. Hoag, Christopher L. Wray, Charles E. Roberts, JR.
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Patent number: 10048165Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Peter M. Lee, Kevin L. Hoag, Riccardo Meldolesi, Anthony Perkins, John W. Miller
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Publication number: 20180136080Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Peter M. LEE, Kevin L. HOAG, Riccardo MELDOLESI, Anthony PERKINS, John W. MILLER
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Patent number: 8807099Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Kevin L. Hoag, Salvatore C. Scuderi
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Publication number: 20120073551Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: SCUDERI GROUP, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Kevin L. Hoag, Salvatore C. Scuderi
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Patent number: 5469817Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 1994Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.Inventor: Kevin L. Hoag