Patents by Inventor Ronald H. Till

Ronald H. Till 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: 6345594
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and correcting a Hot Manifold condition that occurs in turbocharged diesel engines where intake air used for combustion exceeds an acceptable operating temperature where sensors monitor conditions indicative of the Hot Manifold condition and power level reduction, speed control limits, varying coolant system operations, and cycling flow valves are controlled by a processor to correct the Hot Manifold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventors: Edward J. Orschek, Ronald H. Till
  • Patent number: 6327980
    Abstract: Automatic control of the temperature of the inlet air being supplied to the engine (12) of a locomotive (10) in order to optimize the performance of the engine (12) under a variety of ambient air temperatures and pressures. One or more valves (38) is utilized to control the flow of warm air from the engine compartment (14) into the air inlet path (20). The position of valve (38) is controlled by controller (42) in response to at least one of an ambient air temperature signal TA, an ambient atmospheric pressure signal PA, and an inlet air temperature signal TI. The temperature of the air flowing through the warm air flow path 28 may be controlled by selecting from among a plurality of possible inlets (30, 32, 50). By varying the volume and temperature of the air flowing through the warm air flow path (28), the temperature and density of the air supplied at the engine inlet (18) may be moderated across a broad range of ambient air temperatures and pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gong Chen, Gregory A. Marsh, Ronald H. Till, Peter L. Valentine
  • Patent number: 6227153
    Abstract: An engine cooling apparatus for cooling the engine prior to a scheduled maintenance activity. A cool down controller receives a maintenance cool down signal and operates to place the cooling fan, coolant pump, coolant bypass valve and air control shutter in their respective maximum or increased cooling modes. These components are maintained in their maximum or increased cooling mode until the engine reaches a predetermined temperature which may be a function of an ambient temperature control signal. Interlocks may be provided to incorporate a motion control signal and/or a brake control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald H. Till
  • Patent number: 5305908
    Abstract: A compartmentalized tank divided into a plurality of compartments are fluidly connected to a filling chamber wherein the filling chamber has an overflow fluid passage to each of the plurality of compartments and a fluid channel elevationally below the overflow fluid passage which conducts fluid flow during filling of the compartments but does not conduct fluid flow between the compartments when the tank is improperly oriented. Each of the plurality of compartments may include an orientation restrictive air vent, such as one formed by an elongated air channel positioned to reduce the loss of fluid in the event the tank is tipped on its side. The fluid channel has a plurality of orifices for conducting fluid flow from the filling chamber to the plurality of compartments which prevent fluid loss when a compartment is damaged.In another embodiment, the tank includes a supply line and a return line in each compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John E. Otto, Allen C. Bieber, Ronald H. Till
  • Patent number: 5186352
    Abstract: A compartmentalized tank divided into a plurality of compartments are fluidly connected to a filling chamber wherein the filling chamber has an overflow fluid passage to each of the plurality of compartments and a fluid channel elevationally below the overflow fluid passage which conducts fluid flow during filling of the compartments but does not conduct fluid flow between the compartments when the tank is improperly oriented. Each of the plurality of compartments may include an orientation restrictive air vent, such as one formed by an elongated air channel positioned to reduce the loss of fluid in the event the tank is tipped on its side. The fluid channel has a plurality of orifices for conducting fluid flow from the filling chamber to the plurality of compartments which prevent fluid loss when a compartment is damaged.In another embodiment, the tank includes a supply line and a return line in each compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John E. Otto, Allen C. Bieber, Ronald H. Till