Patents by Inventor Steven N Rogak

Steven N Rogak 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: 8469009
    Abstract: A gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine and a method of engine operation improve combustion stability and reducing emissions of NOx, PM, and unburned hydrocarbons. The method comprises fuelling an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and natural gas, which can be directly injected into the combustion chamber together or introduced separately. Of the total gaseous fuel delivered to the engine, at least 5% by volume at standard temperature and pressure is hydrogen. For at least one engine operating condition, the ratio of fuel rail pressure to peak in-cylinder pressure is at least 1.5:1. A fuel injection valve introduces the gaseous fuel mixture directly into the combustion chamber. Two separate fuel injection valves could also introduce the methane and hydrogen separately. An electronic controller controls timing for operating the fuel injection valve(s). The engine has a preferred compression ratio of at least 14:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Westport Power Inc., The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Sandeep Munshi, Gordon P. McTaggart-Cowan, Steven N. Rogak, W. Kendal Bushe
  • Patent number: 8322325
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding fuel injector for injecting gaseous and liquid fuel into an engine. The method comprises delivering a liquid fuel to a fuel injector, delivering a pressurized gaseous fuel to the fuel injector, entraining the liquid fuel within the gaseous fuel within a chamber of the fuel injector and injecting the gaseous fuel and atomized liquid fuel into the combustion chamber. The liquid fuel can be passed through and dispensed from a needle into a chamber in the injector nozzle where it is entrained in the gaseous fuel during an injection event. The liquid/gas mass ratio is controlled by the needle movement, hydraulic resistances or electronic valves so that the majority of the liquid is injected during the first part of the gas injection. The injector can be used for late cycle direct injection of natural gas, or any number of gaseous fuel blends combined with many liquid fuels such as diesel, biodiesel and DME.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Steven N. Rogak, William Kendal Bushe, Gordon McTaggart-Cowan
  • Publication number: 20120160221
    Abstract: A gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine and a method of engine operation improve combustion stability and reducing emissions of NOx, PM, and unburned hydrocarbons. The method comprises fuelling an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and natural gas, which can be directly injected into the combustion chamber together or introduced separately. Of the total gaseous fuel delivered to the engine, at least 5% by volume at standard temperature and pressure is hydrogen. For at least one engine operating condition, the ratio of fuel rail pressure to peak in-cylinder pressure is at least 1.5:1. A fuel injection valve introduces the gaseous fuel mixture directly into the combustion chamber. Two separate fuel injection valves could also introduce the methane and hydrogen separately. An electronic controller controls timing for operating the fuel injection valve(s). The engine has a preferred compression ratio of at least 14:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Sandeep Munshi, Gordon P. McTaggart-Cowan, Steven N. Rogak, W.Kendal Bushe
  • Patent number: 8091536
    Abstract: A gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine and a method of engine operation improve combustion stability and reducing emissions of NOx, PM, and unburned hydrocarbons. The method comprises fuelling an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and natural gas, which can be directly injected into the combustion chamber together or introduced separately. Of the total gaseous fuel delivered to the engine, at least 5% by volume at standard temperature and pressure is hydrogen. For at least one engine operating condition, the ratio of fuel rail pressure to peak in-cylinder pressure is at least 1.5:1. A fuel injection valve introduces the gaseous fuel mixture directly into the combustion chamber. Two separate fuel injection valves could also introduce the methane and hydrogen separately. An electronic controller controls timing for operating the fuel injection valve(s). The engine has a preferred compression ratio of at least 14:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Munshi, Gordon P. McTaggart-Cowan, Steven N. Rogak, William Kendal Bushe
  • Publication number: 20100199948
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding fuel injector for injecting gaseous and liquid fuel into an engine. The method comprises delivering a liquid fuel to a fuel injector, delivering a pressurized gaseous fuel to the fuel injector, entraining the liquid fuel within the gaseous fuel within a chamber of the fuel injector and injecting the gaseous fuel and atomized liquid fuel into the combustion chamber. The liquid fuel can be passed through and dispensed from a needle into a chamber in the injector nozzle where it is entrained in the gaseous fuel during an injection event. The liquid/gas mass ratio is controlled by the needle movement, hydraulic resistances or electronic valves so that the majority of the liquid is injected during the first part of the gas injection. The injector can be used for late cycle direct injection of natural gas, or any number of gaseous fuel blends combined with many liquid fuels such as diesel, biodiesel and DME.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Steven N. Rogak, William Kendal Bushe, Gordon McTaggart-Cowan
  • Publication number: 20090120385
    Abstract: A gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine and a method of engine operation improve combustion stability and reducing emissions of NOx, PM, and unburned hydrocarbons. The method comprises fuelling an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and natural gas, which can be directly injected into the combustion chamber together or introduced separately. Of the total gaseous fuel delivered to the engine, at least 5% by volume at standard temperature and pressure is hydrogen. For at least one engine operating condition, the ratio of fuel rail pressure to peak in-cylinder pressure is at least 1.5:1. A fuel injection valve introduces the gaseous fuel mixture directly into the combustion chamber. Two separate fuel injection valves could also introduce the methane and hydrogen separately. An electronic controller controls timing for operating the fuel injection valve(s). The engine has a preferred compression ratio of at least 14:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Sandeep Munshi, Gordon P. McTaggart-Cowen, Steven N. Rogak, William Kendal Bushe
  • Patent number: 7302918
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adjust pilot fuel injection timing in relation to a main fuel injection timing into a piston cylinder of an operating gaseous-fuelled direct injection internal combustion engine using high levels of EGR. A set of engine parameters are monitored which determine engine load and engine speed and an indicator of EGR concentration within the intake charge. Pilot fuel timing relative to main fuel injection timing is then adjusted according to the engine parameters. High levels of EGR are shown to be tolerated with relatively limited penalties in relation to other emissions typically found with high EGR by reducing the relative injection timing the pilot fuel as compared to main fuel injection timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignees: Westport Power Inc., University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Sandeep Munshi, Gordon P. McTaggart-Cowan, W. Kendal Bushe, Steven N. Rogak
  • Patent number: 6571645
    Abstract: A disk probe velocimeter is formed by multiple orthogonal disks fitted with pressure transducers positioned to measure dynamic pressure differences between the center of one disk face and the center of the other face of each disk. The velocimeter can measure reasonably accurately three components of velocity where the approximate direction of the flow is not known. Where the dominant velocity component is known, the velocimeter may be combined with a Pitot probe to form a compact anemometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventors: Sheldon I. Green, Steven N Rogak