Patents Issued in December 10, 2009
  • Publication number: 20090301060
    Abstract: A method of estimating temperature of a catalyst associated with a cylinder bank of a multi-displacement internal combustion engine having multiple cylinder banks associated with multiple catalysts. A temperature estimate of the catalysts associated with the multiple cylinder banks is set substantially equal to a base model temperature. Deactivation of a cylinder bank of the multiple cylinder banks is determined, and a catalyst cooldown correction is identified for the catalyst associated with the deactivated cylinder bank from a catalyst cooldown model including time elapsed since deactivation of the cylinder bank. The catalyst cooldown correction is applied to the temperature estimate of the catalyst associated with the deactivated cylinder bank to update the temperature estimate of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Gerald Lee Kennie, Kevin Scott Freeman, James J. Daley
  • Publication number: 20090301061
    Abstract: System and method for regenerating a diesel particulate filter in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine driven vehicle that is equipped with an automatic mechanical transmission. The particulate load in the diesel particulate filter is determined to exceed a minimum predetermined threshold amount which is sufficiently high to warrant regeneration of the filter. Current vehicle conditions are determined to exist that permit the establishment of appropriate conditions in the exhaust system to affect regeneration of the particulate loaded filter by appropriately configuring the AMT. The immediate future driving conditions are analyzed to assure they permit operation of the combustion engine under sufficient load and at sufficiently low speeds to maintain a sufficiently high regeneration temperature and exhaust flow in the exhaust system under the control of the AMT to affect regeneration of the diesel particulate filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Ivar Sahlen, Mats Henrik Tobiasson
  • Publication number: 20090301062
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control device for an internal combustion engine includes a capturing device that is disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine and that captures particulate matter in exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage, a sensor that is disposed in the exhaust passage on a downstream side of the capturing device in a flow direction of exhaust gas and that measures an amount of soot in the particulate matter, a control unit for increasing the particulate matter that flows into the capturing device, and a determination device for determining whether the capturing device is at fault based on the amount of soot measured by the sensor after increasing the particulate matter that flows into the capturing device through the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi SUMIDA, Yasuhiro Kariya, Satoru Nosaka
  • Publication number: 20090301063
    Abstract: An ECU corrects a fuel addition interval, based on an amount of change between an exhaust gas temperature at present and a basic exhaust gas temperature obtained when a basic addition interval is set, to reduce the fuel addition interval with an increase in the amount of change in the exhaust gas temperature (steps ST1-ST4). With such correction of the addition interval, when the exhaust gas temperature is increased in a highland region or the like, the fuel addition interval is corrected to be reduced and an fuel addition amount is corrected to be increased according to the increase in the exhaust gas temperature. Thereby, an increase in a temperature at a tip portion of a fuel addition valve can be suppressed, and thus clogging of an ejection hole of the fuel addition valve with deposits can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Tahara, Masaaki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090301064
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards improved systems and methods for the delivery of urea to an exhaust gas treatment system. In one exemplary embodiment, a urea pump assembly for an exhaust treatment system is provided. The pump assembly includes a housing comprising: a housing chamber, a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet through a first conduit. The housing also comprises a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, the second fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet through a second flexible conduit. The second flexible conduit is located within a portion of the housing chamber and in thermal communication with the first conduit. The pump assembly also includes a pump located within the housing chamber, the pump being engaged with the second conduit and configured to move fluid between the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Eugen Maier, Oscar A. Lecea
  • Publication number: 20090301065
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine includes an upstream segment and a downstream segment connecting with the upstream segment. The downstream segment is a NOx reducing segment having an exhaust gas outlet and a reductant inlet disposed between the exhaust gas outlet and an exhaust gas inlet for the downstream segment. The upstream segment further includes a coating having a catalyst configured to increase a ratio of NO2 to NO in exhaust gases passing through the upstream segment. The coating includes a catalyst distribution, which may be a catalyst coating length, which is linked to a target ratio of NO2 to NO for reducing NOx in the downstream segment. The catalyst distribution in the upstream segment is adapted to increase the ratio of NO2 to NO, while limiting the ratio of NO2 to NO to a ratio optimized for reduction of NOx in the downstream segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Zhiyong Wei
  • Publication number: 20090301066
    Abstract: A method of controlling a rate of introduction of a NOx reducing substance or precursor to a catalyst component. The method comprises obtaining the amount of NOx entering the catalyst component, modelling the amount of NOx reducing substance or precursor in the catalyst component and controlling the rate of introduction of the NOx reducing substance or precursor to reduce NOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: RICARDO UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Hector Sindano, Ben Rogers, Andy Noble, Matthew Keenan, Phil Mortimer
  • Publication number: 20090301067
    Abstract: A method of dosing a reagent into an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine having an SCR catalyst, the method comprising injecting reagent from a reagent tank into the exhaust gas stream at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst using a reagent injector in accordance with a first dosing schedule in order to remediate a predetermined proportion of NOx in the exhaust gas stream, the first dosing schedule being associated with a first range of engine operating conditions; and injecting reagent from the reagent tank into the exhaust gas stream at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst using a reagent injector in accordance with a second dosing schedule in order to enable heat transfer between the reagent injector and said injected reagent, the second dosing schedule being associated with a second range of engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: PHILIP J.G. DINGLE, MARTIN PAUL HARDY, ROMAN STEFAN ZUELCH
  • Publication number: 20090301068
    Abstract: A NOx catalyst is provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for selectively purifying NOx in exhaust gas with a reducing agent. A charging unit charges the reducing agent at an upstream of the NOx catalyst. A pressurizing unit supplies the reducing agent to the charging unit. An obtaining unit detects or estimates catalyst temperature of the NOx catalyst or temperature information, which is correlated with the catalyst temperature. A particle size control unit changes reducing-agent pressure of reducing agent, which is pressurized by the pressurizing unit and supplied to the charging unit, to control an atomized particle size of the reducing agent, which is atomized from the charging unit and charged into exhaust gas, based on the catalyst temperature or the temperature information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Fujita, Masatoshi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20090301069
    Abstract: A component for cleaning the exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine has a carrier body with a plurality of flow ducts for the exhaust gas. At least some of the walls (3) of the flow ducts have a coating with an oxygen storage capacity. According to the invention, the coating with an oxygen storage capacity is provided for a first delimited region of the carrier body, while a second delimited region of the carrier body is made free of a coating with an oxygen storage capacity or has a coating with a greatly reduced oxygen storage capacity compared to the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Clemens Brinkmeier, Christof Schoen, Guido Vent
  • Publication number: 20090301070
    Abstract: A vaporization device for a motor vehicle exhaust system vaporizes an oxidizable liquid and introduces a vapor produced from the oxidizable liquid into an exhaust gas flow of the motor vehicle exhaust system. The vaporization device includes a heating element that is arranged in a housing, and which has the form of a glowing filament. The housing has an inlet for the liquid, at least one vaporization chamber, and an outlet for the vapor. The glowing filament is embedded in a glow tube surrounding the glowing filament. The glowing filament and the glow tube constitute a prefabricated unit which is fastened on a side of the housing by the glow tube being mounted directly to the housing. Furthermore, an exhaust system having a vaporization device, and a method of producing a vaporization device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: EMCOM TECHNOLOGIES GERMANY (AUGSBURG) GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Klement
  • Publication number: 20090301071
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption assembly for an air induction system is disclosed. The hydrocarbon adsorption assembly includes a fluid conduit having an outer surface and a spaced apart inner surface to form a fluid path therein, the conduit including a recessed area formed in the inner surface thereof. A hydrocarbon trap is disposed in the recessed area of the fluid conduit to adsorb hydrocarbons passing through the conduit. The recessed area and the hydrocarbon trap cooperate to cause a portion of an air flowing through the flow path of the conduit to flow through the hydrocarbon trap to facilitate a purging thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Scott Richard Dobert, Scott Allen Schaffer, Anthony C. Arruda
  • Publication number: 20090301072
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an automatic choke system for use in an engine having a muffler and a choking mechanism that are located remotely apart from one another. The system includes a thermally responsive device, at least one component that serves to connect, at least in part, the device to the choking mechanism, and a further mechanism for conveying heat from the muffler to the device. Additionally, the system in at least one embodiment includes at least one of: (a) a pipe for conveying a fluid from a first location proximate the muffler to a second location proximate the device, the pipe being comprised within the further mechanism; and (b) a rotatable axle that spans a majority of a distance between the first location and a third location that is proximate the choking mechanism, the axle being comprised within the at least one component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Aleko D. Sotiriades
  • Publication number: 20090301073
    Abstract: An apparatus for energy recovery is provided. The apparatus comprises a hydrostatic machine and at least one hydraulic storage component. The hydraulic storage component is connected to the hydrostatic machine via a working line. A valve device is provided for influencing the volumetric flow in the working line between the hydraulic storage component and the hydrostatic machine. The valve device comprises a brake pressure regulating valve unit with a valve and a pilot valve unit which acts on the valve with a control pressure. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the apparatus for energy recovery. In order to store released energy, a required braking torque is determined by a control electronics system. The volume from the hydrostatic piston machine into the working line is increased and the pilot valve is actuated by the control electronics system such that the valve is moved towards its open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Mueller, Peter Schmuttermair
  • Publication number: 20090301074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic assembly with a hydrodynamic retarder comprising a rotor and a stator; with a hydrodynamic clutch, comprising a primary wheel and a secondary wheel; the rotor and the stator of the retarder as well as the primary wheel and the secondary wheel of the clutch respectively form with each other a torus-shaped working chamber; the rotor of the retarder and the secondary wheel of the clutch are joined to each other in torsion-proof manner, in axial direction in series in a back to back arrangement; the primary wheel has a drive connection to a first input shaft; the rotor and the secondary wheel have a drive connection to a second input shaft; The inventive hydrodynamic assembly is characterized in that the rotor and the secondary wheel can be moved jointly in axial direction between a first position, in which the secondary wheel is opposite the primary wheel at a minimum axial distance and the rotor is opposite the stator at a maximum axial distance, and a second po
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Kley
  • Publication number: 20090301075
    Abstract: A speed of a hydraulic actuator is matched with that of an electric actuator when the hydraulic actuator and the electric actuator are concurrently actuated. When determination units (71, 72) determine that a boom hydraulic cylinder (31) and a rotation generator motor (11) are concurrently actuated based on a controlled variable of a boom control lever (41) and a controlled variable of a rotation control lever (42), a torque of the rotation generator motor (11) is restricted based on a pump discharge pressure (Pp). Therefore, for example, a torque limit command is generated and output such that a torque limit value (TL2) of the rotation generator motor (11) is decreased with a decrease in discharge pressure (Pp) of a hydraulic pump (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Morinaga, Tadashi Kawaguchi, Hiroaki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20090301076
    Abstract: A vehicle transaxle system includes a pair of right and left transaxle units equipped on a vehicle. The right transaxle unit supports a single right axle, and the left transaxle unit supports a single left axle. A variable displacement hydraulic pump is disposed in each of the right and left transaxle units so as to be driven by power from a prime mover of the vehicle. A variable displacement hydraulic motor is disposed in each of the right and left transaxle units and is fluidly connected to the corresponding hydraulic pump so as to drive the corresponding right or left axle. A movable motor displacement control member is provided in each of the transaxle unit so as to be moved to change the displacement of the corresponding hydraulic motor. An interlocking connection means is connected to both the movable motor displacement control members of the respective hydraulic motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Masaru Iida, Hideki Kanenobu
  • Publication number: 20090301077
    Abstract: A resistance feedback circuit has a storage section which stores a feedback gain calculated in advance, a resistance value obtained from a detection section, and a time at which the resistance value is obtained. A computing section has a gain setting section which calculates an amount of change in a resistance value in a predetermined time from the resistance value and the time stored in the storage section, and calculates the feedback gain based on the change in the resistance value calculated, and replaces the feedback gain which is calculated in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20090301078
    Abstract: A system increasing the efficiency of a powerplant by recovering the waste generated by an auxiliary cooling system is provided. The system may include a condensate loop and a heat recovery loop. These loops may integrate the auxiliary cooling systems of a gas turbine with the heat recovery steam generator of the powerplant. The integration may allow a smaller economizer section, which may increase the efficiency of the powerplant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Michael B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090301079
    Abstract: A supercharging system (40) is disclosed which comprises a supercharging device (28) having at least one inlet port (42) and at least one outlet port (44), and at least one idle valve (30) in fluid communication with the supercharging device (28). The idle valve (30) is disposed adjacent the outlet port (44) and is arranged to selectively restrict fluid flow during use in a direction through the idle valve (30) towards the supercharging device (28). A corresponding supercharging kit and an internal combustion engine including a supercharging system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Sprintex Australasia Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy John Walmsley, Jude Benedict Upton, Carl Carisbrook Henry, Derek Alfred Gobby
  • Publication number: 20090301080
    Abstract: A bypass valve for internal combustion engines for connecting the pressure side to the intake side of a supercharging device. The bypass valve includes an electromagnetic actuator and a valve housing in which a closing component is movably accommodated. The closing component has a valve body, acted upon by pressure and movable in a flow channel, and a switchable sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Bruno Hezel, Harald Laue
  • Publication number: 20090301081
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air control valve for internal combustion engines comprising a turbocharger, the air control valve being placed inside a bypass channel between a pressure side and an intake side of a boost pressure pump of the turbocharger, a housing which comprises an electromagnetic drive unit and a valve unit movable in said housing, said valve unit essentially comprising a valve rod and a valve closing body attached thereto and having a circular sealing element, wherein means are provided that keep the moving valve unit in a closed position when no current is supplied to said valve unit, wherein at least one pressure compensation opening is provided at the moving valve unit, wherein the valve closing body has a cylindrical lateral surface which cooperates with means in such a manner that a housing interior is sealed towards the pressure side or the intake side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Thiery, Max Herrmann, Harald Krause
  • Publication number: 20090301082
    Abstract: A turbocharger (20) having a sliding piston type variable turbine nozzle includes a tubular piston (40) disposed in a bore (32) of the turbine housing and axially slidable relative to the turbine housing, the piston being slidable between a closed position and an open position for blocking the nozzle (36) opening by an amount dependent on axial positioning of the piston so as to regulate flow into the turbine wheel (30). The turbine housing (32) and piston (40) are structured and arranged to define a cavity (50) therebetween, and there are seals (52a, 52b) between the turbine housing and piston for sealing the cavity, the turbine housing (32) defining a passage (54) connecting with the cavity (50) and adapted to be connected with a fluid source such that application of differential fluid pressure through the passage to the cavity urges the piston to axially slide in the turbine housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Patrick Masson, Mary-Jene Ruffinoni, Antoine Jocelyn
  • Publication number: 20090301083
    Abstract: An exemplary variable geometry turbine includes a turbine wheel; a variable geometry assembly that includes a rotatable control ring that has a slot and a plurality of vanes where each vane has a post pivotably controlled by rotation of the control ring and where adjacent vanes define nozzles to direct exhaust gas to the turbine wheel; a crankshaft that has a pin for receipt by the slot of the control ring where rotation of the crankshaft rotates the control ring; and a center housing that includes a rotatable stop fixed to the crankshaft and having a close stop surface, a secure component and a translatable shaft where the translatable shaft comprises an engagement mechanism to engage the rotatable stop; where translation of the shaft causes rotation of the crankshaft and where the close stop surface establishes a contact with the secure component to limit rotation of the crankshaft and to establish a closed limit for the vanes. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick Rayner, Laurent Li, Songter Li
  • Publication number: 20090301084
    Abstract: An air control system for charge control of an engine and a method thereof. An air cut-off valve is installed between an air tank supplying compressed air and a wastegate control valve adjusting an opening degree of a wastegate valve. The air cut-off valve is configured to cut off a channel when an idle validation switch signal is inputted into an engine control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sungha LEE
  • Publication number: 20090301085
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine comprising: a turbine driven by exhaust gas from the engine; a compressor for supplying compressed air to the engine, the compressor including an impeller driven by the turbine; an arrangement upstream of the impeller suitable for directing air such that it is swirling in a rotational sense on reaching the impeller; and control means arranged to control said arrangement such that as the speed of the impeller approaches a predetermined maximum speed limit the arrangement directs air such that it is swirling in the opposite rotational sense to that in which the impeller is being driven by the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Francis Heyes
  • Publication number: 20090301086
    Abstract: The fuel efficiency of an internal combustion reciprocating piston engine may be increased through selective secondary expansion of exhaust gas in the engine cylinders in order to recover exhaust gas energy which is otherwise wasted by cylinder blow-down at the end of the power stroke. Exhaust valve cam switching, intake valve deactivation, multiple exhaust valves, a specialized exhaust manifold arrangement and an exhaust gas diverter valve can be configured to enable a reciprocating engine to selectively operate in efficient eight stroke cycle compound mode when moderate engine power is demanded, then revert to conventional four stroke cycle non-compound mode operation when high engine power is demanded, without stopping the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Mark Dixon Ralston
  • Publication number: 20090301087
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for generating power from thermal energy stored in a fluid extracted during the recovery of heavy oil. The method includes the steps of vaporizing a working fluid in a binary cycle using thermal energy stored in the extracted fluid, converting the vaporized working fluid total energy into mechanical power using a positive displacement expander, and condensing the vaporized working fluid back to a liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Alexandre A. Borissov, Anatoly A. Borissov
  • Publication number: 20090301088
    Abstract: An ocean thermal energy conversion assembly includes a ship having support tubes connected between a lower part and a top deck of the ship so as to define an open space. A passage is defined through the lower part and an annular connector is connected to a lower end of the passage. A plurality of rods extend from a top of the annular connector and are pivotably connected to the annular connection portion. A transmission pipe is connected to an underside of the annular connector. A hollow damper is connected to an outer periphery of the annular connector and an outer periphery of the hollow damper is engaged with an inner periphery of a bottom opening in a lower end of the passage. A top cover seals a top opening of the passage and has a wave-elimination way which communicates with holes in the top cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Fang Sheng Kuo, Po Hsuan Kuo, Chung Hsuan Kuo
  • Publication number: 20090301089
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding gas in a cylinder. The cylinder is used in a staged hydraulic-pneumatic energy conversion system and includes a gas chamber (pneumatic side) and a fluid chamber (hydraulic side) and a piston or other mechanism that separates the gas chamber and fluid chamber while allowing the transfer of force/pressure between each opposing chamber. The gas chamber of the cylinder includes ports that are coupled to a heat transfer subassembly that circulates gas from the pneumatic side and exchanges its heat with a counter flow of ambient temperature fluid from a reservoir or other source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Bollinger
  • Publication number: 20090301090
    Abstract: To provide a working medium for heat cycle less influential to environment and excellent in heat cycle characteristics, and a Rankine cycle system, a heat pump cycle system and a refrigerating cycle system having high capacity and efficiency. A working medium for heat cycle, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1). A Rankine cycle system, a heat pump cycle system and a refrigerating cycle system employing such a working medium for heat cycle. CnF2n+1—CmH2m+1 ??(1) wherein n is an integer of from 2 to 8, an m is an integer of from 0 to 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Masato FUKUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20090301091
    Abstract: A compressor-less micro gas turbine has a compressed working medium container for maintaining a gas turbine under pressure. A combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the compressed gas container for receiving a gas from the gas container and heating the gas within the combustion chamber to create an expanded gas. A heater heats the combustion chamber to expand the working gas therein. A turbine in fluid communication with the combustion chamber for receiving the expanded gas. The expanded gas drives the turbine. A generator is operatively coupled to the turbine. The turbine provides a mechanical input to the generator causing the generator to produce electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Darren T. Engle, Jody W. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20090301092
    Abstract: A burner for a gas-turbine engine including a swirler and a combustion chamber is provided. The swirler includes a plurality of vanes arranged in a circle, each adjacent pair of vanes defining a flow slot for the flow of air and fuel into the swirler, the air and fuel is mixed and supplied in swirling form to the combustion chamber. The swirler can also include a partitioning device which divides the flow of air along each flow slot into two air flows. One side of the partitioning device has a fuel-supply port for supplying fuel to one of the two air flows. The relevant air flow causes fuel supplied to the fuel-supply port to form a film of fuel over the relevant side of the partitioning device. The film leaves the relevant side of the partitioning device in a region of high shear between adjacent flows in the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Nigel Wilbraham
  • Publication number: 20090301093
    Abstract: An example gas turbine engine includes an engine casing and an engine liner within the engine casing. One of the engine casing or the engine liner includes a first attachment structure. The other of the engine casing or the engine liner defines a track guide. A slideable member is moveable within the track guide between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The slideable member includes a second attachment structure engageable with the first attachment structure to secure the engine liner relative the engine casing when the slideable member is in the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Gonzalo F. Martinez, Gary J. Dillard
  • Publication number: 20090301094
    Abstract: A composite article includes a composite member, a flexible member and at least one shape memory material member. The composite member has longitudinally extending fibres in a matrix material. The at least one shape memory material member extends substantially parallel to the composite member and the flexible member is positioned between the composite member and the at least one shape memory material member to bond the at least one shape memory material member to the composite member. The composite article is particularly suitable for use as a tab for an exhaust nozzle of a turbofan gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: John Richard Webster
  • Publication number: 20090301095
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a nacelle having a pressure side and a suction side. A passage extends between the pressure side and the suction side that permits airflow from the pressure side to the suction side. The passage receives turbulent airflow over the nacelle to produce a laminar airflow over the nacelle aft of the passage to thereby reduce drag on the nacelle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Steven H. Zysman, Wesley K. Lord, Robert M. Miller, Oliver V. Atassi
  • Publication number: 20090301096
    Abstract: The invention relates to turbine engines used in aeronautics, but also for industrial and marine turbine engines. To reduce turbine engine combustor gaseous emissions at given combustor sizes or to reduce combustor sizes at given combustor gaseous emissions, the invention proposes the injection of hydrogen into the combustor in response to a power output level. According to a preferred embodiment, gaseous hydrogen is always injected at low-power operations and switched off at mid-power and high-power operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicants: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, AIRBUS SAS
    Inventors: Sebastien REMY, Jean BOTTI
  • Publication number: 20090301097
    Abstract: A regulating device for regulating the course of a gas turbine plant has at least one sensor for sensing a measurement variable and for outputting a measurement signal which represents the measurement variable; at least one adjusting system for influencing air and/or fuel supply to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine plant on the basis of a correcting variable; and a regulator connected to the at least one sensor so as to receive the measurement variable and to the at least one adjusting system for outputting the correcting variable, the regulator being designed to determine the correcting variable on the basis of the measurement variable received and its deviation from a pilot variable. At least one sensor is designed to sense the variation in time of at least one burner or combustion chamber parameter as measurement variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Eberhard Deuker, Stefan Pernau, Siegfried Bode, Andreas Diebels, Thomas Hahner, Thomas Hesse, Werner Krebs, Bernd Prade, Peter-Andreas Schneider, Dieter Simon, Berthold Sturm, Heinrich Thölkin, Dieter Warnack, Andreas Bauer, Joachim Lepers, Martin Müller
  • Publication number: 20090301098
    Abstract: Method for efficient energy transformation by means of a gaseous medium comprising steam, said steam being produced from a first fluid medium, energy for heating the first fluid medium being provided by burning a fuel, comprising the steps of: mixing the steam with exhaust gas from combustion of said fuel; introducing said mixture into a cavity; and bringing said steam and exhaust gas mixture into contact with a cold second fluid medium within said cavity such that a supersonic shock wave is created. The invention also relates to a device and a system for efficient energy transformation by means of a gaseous medium comprising steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Abrahamsson
  • Publication number: 20090301099
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating power via a gas turbine are disclosed. Coal bed methane and/or natural gas, air or oxygen-enriched air, and steam are supplied to a combustor of the gas turbine. Coal bed methane and/or natural gas is combusted and resultant combustion products and a flue gas drive the gas turbine and generate electricity. A hot flue gas stream from the gas turbine is supplied to a heat recovery steam generator (“HRSG”) and the generator produces high pressure steam and low pressure steam. High pressure steam is supplied to the combustor of the gas turbine. CO2 is recovered from a flue gas from the HRSG. The recovered CO2 is supplied to a suitable storage region, such as the coal bed seam that produced the coal bed methane used in the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Nello Nigro
  • Publication number: 20090301100
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating power in a power plant with no CO2 emissions are disclosed. The method comprises separating coal bed methane and water extracted from an underground deposit, using the coal bed methane as a source of energy for operating a gas turbine and ultimately generating electricity, in a power plant and using the water in the power plant, for example in a cooling water circuit of the power plant. The method includes separately or in combination supplying steam to a combustor of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: BHP BILLITON INNOVATION PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Nello Nigro
  • Publication number: 20090301101
    Abstract: A heat exchanger provided with a heat exchanger housing for circulating a cooling air flow and a hot air flow therein including a hot air input channel placed on the housing rear side for supplying the hot air flow to the heat exchanger housing and a cooling air discharge channel arranged on the rear side of said heat exchanger housing for exhausting the cooling air flow therefrom, wherein the channels are concentrically shaped. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a propulsion unit provided with the inventive heat exchanger, wherein the cooling air discharge channel arranged in the rear part of the housing crosses the strut in such a way that the cooling air flow is exhausted behind a jet engine. An aircraft provided with at least one inventive propulsion unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventor: Herve Marche
  • Publication number: 20090301102
    Abstract: A gas-turbine compressor has a casing 1 in which a rotor hub 2 is rotatably borne, and a compressor duct 9 being disposed between the casing 1 and the rotor hub 2, in which at least one rotor 4, which is rotatable about a machine axis 5, and one stator 5 are arranged Recesses 12 of a bleed-air tapping device 6 are provided in the casing 1, which—in at least one circumferential area 11—are arranged circumferentially to each other. Recess 12 includes a circumferential leading edge 16 in the circumferential direction and a circumferential trailing edge 17, each of which includes an identical angle ?E with the surface 18 of the casing 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Carsten Clemen, Henner Schrapp
  • Publication number: 20090301103
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a thermoelectric heat pump includes a heat transfer region having an array of thermoelectric modules, a waste channel in substantial thermal communication with a high temperature portion of the heat transfer region, and a main channel in substantial thermal communication with a low temperature portion of the heat transfer region. An enclosure wall provides a barrier between fluid in the waste channel and fluid in the main channel throughout the interior of the thermoelectric heat pump. In some embodiments, the waste fluid channel and the main fluid channel are positioned and shaped such that differences in temperature between fluids disposed near opposite sides of the enclosure wall are substantially decreased or minimized at corresponding positions along the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Lon E. Bell, Robert W. Diller
  • Publication number: 20090301104
    Abstract: A container for cryogenic liquids, comprising an evacuable outer container, wherein the outer container has a substantially flat base wall, a substantially flat ceiling wall and side walls. A support is arranged between inner containers, wherein the support is larger in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inner container than in the direction between the inner containers and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the inner container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: MAGNA STEYR FAHRZEUGTECHNIK AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Brunnhofer
  • Publication number: 20090301105
    Abstract: A method for producing an ice surface for an ice rink by freezing water to which an inorganic substance is added is characterized in that the inorganic substance is ammonia, an alkali hydroxide or alkaline earth hydroxide, a hydrogen halide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, an alkali salt, alkaline earth salt or ammonium salt of said acids, or ammonium-bicarbonate, or a mixture of several of said substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Unversitat Innsbruck
    Inventor: Thomas Loerting
  • Publication number: 20090301106
    Abstract: A method of regulating the refrigerant temperature for a beverage machine, including a refrigeration system for producing a frozen beverage, operating at least one compressor at a speed to flow the refrigerant through the refrigeration system of the beverage machine and cooling the refrigerant with at least one condenser. The method may also include controllably varying the flow of air across the at least one condenser or the speed of the at least one compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Doug Franck, Darren Wayne Simmons, Daniel J. Peck, Richard Carrol Staten
  • Publication number: 20090301107
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing saline slush for surgical applications. Producing surgical saline slush in a slush bottle that is a rigid or semi-rigid, high integrity, sturdy container that resists punctures and leaks to better maintain a sterile barrier and does not rely on having an external object placed in the fluid to mix the slush. Slush is agitated by rotating the slush bottle within a slush bottle carriage around an axis of rotation. Agitation of the slush may be increased by including an agitation feature such as at least one fin in one or more sidewalls of the slush bottle. The rotating slush bottle is chilled. One variation is to keep the sterile saline in a flexible container and tumble the flexible container in a rotating slush bottle. Other variations are suggested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers
  • Publication number: 20090301108
    Abstract: A multi-refrigerant cooling system comprising a cooling circuit (100) for circulation of a refrigerant mixture. The cooling circuit comprises, i.a., one or more separator(s) (102, 103) configured to separate and withdraw a respective refrigerant fraction of the refrigerant mixture. Each separator is connected to a respective holding tank (201, 202). Each holding tank is further connected to the cooling circuit via a supply conduit (207), the supply conduit being configured to supply one or more refrigerant fraction(s) to the cooling circuit. Method for adjusting the composition of a refrigerant mixture of a multi-refrigerant cooling system. The method allows adjustment of the composition of the refrigerant mixture during operation of the multi-refrigerant cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Wolfgang G. Hees
  • Publication number: 20090301109
    Abstract: A transcritical vapor compression system includes a fluid circuit circulating a refrigerant in a closed loop. The fluid circuit has operably disposed therein, in serial order, a first compressor, an intercooler, a second compressor with a variable capacity, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant from the intermediate pressure to a supercritical pressure. The first heat exchanger is positioned in a high pressure side of the fluid circuit. The second heat exchanger is positioned in a low pressure side of the fluid circuit. The expansion device reduces the pressure of the refrigerant from a supercritical pressure to a relatively lower pressure. Cooling means cools the refrigerant within one of the compressors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY
    Inventor: Dan M. Manole