Patents Issued in February 1, 2011
  • Patent number: 7877969
    Abstract: A method of adjusting at least one working unit of a harvesting machine includes taking pictures or picture series of a crop-material flow at a position downstream from a particular working unit in a crop-material conveyance path at various setting states with certain control parameter setting values of the working unit, storing the pictures or picture series such that they are assigned to control parameter setting values belonging to a particular setting state, with which a picture or a picture series is selected based on an analysis of the crop-material flow depicted in the picture or picture series, and adjusting the particular working unit using the control parameter setting values assigned to the selected picture or the selected picture series; and a harvesting machine carries out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Willi Behnke
  • Patent number: 7877970
    Abstract: A biomass harvesting system for harvesting agricultural plant growth from agricultural fields comprises in operative combination a power source for providing mechanical and electric power to the system, a biomass accumulator for producing discrete units of accumulated biomass and a windrower for feeding biomass to the biomass accumulator. The system also includes a biomass quality analyzer for determining a set of quality characteristics of the accumulated biomass, a dirt control system for controlling the quantity of dirt in the accumulated biomass, and a ground cover residue monitor for determining on optimal quantity of biomass residue to remain on the agricultural field. An active tracking system identifies individual ones of the discrete units of accumulated biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Lon Owen Crosby
  • Patent number: 7877971
    Abstract: A trimming system for a user-operated ground vehicle capable of performing mowing and trimming operations. The system includes a drive operatively coupled to a drive system of the vehicle having the trimming system mounted thereon, and a trimming unit operatively coupled to the drive for performing edge trimming operations. The drive may include at least one driven pulley operatively coupled to a drive pulley of the vehicle for driving the trimming unit. The drive pulley may be coupled to a mowing unit and the trimming unit to either selectively or simultaneously drive the mowing and trimming units. A guide wheel may be mounted on the vehicle adjacent the trimming unit for maintaining the trimming wires of the trimming unit at a predetermined distance from a stationary object during performance of edge trimming operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Patrick Hallinan, Karl W. MacDonald, Carl Novak, Joseph Cassella, Joseph Basile, James Schreck, Stanley Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 7877972
    Abstract: An automatic connection mechanism for a mid-mounted implement to a tractor. The automatic connection mechanism includes a rear lift linkage pivotably attached to the tractor, that automatically and releasably engage the rear of the implement. The forward lift linkage is pivotably attached to the front of the implement, and automatically and releasably engages the forward end of the tractor. A PTO coupling member also is attached to the rear lift linkage to engage an opposing PTO coupling member on the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Robert Neil Fox, Eric A. Howard, Carlos A. Diaz, Harlin J. Trefz, Benjamin J. Swart
  • Patent number: 7877973
    Abstract: A mid-mount riding rotary mower which has a two-piece frame. The frame includes a front section that is pivotally connected to a rear section. The mower deck is carried beneath the mower between the front and rear wheels and is attached to the front frame and follows the movement of the front wheels. The front frame includes swing arms that allow the front wheels to spread open and be clamped for different operating conditions. The mower deck can be removed from underneath the mower when the arms are fully spread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Beeline Mowers and Equipment, LLC
    Inventor: Vern Godfrey
  • Patent number: 7877974
    Abstract: A floating swathgate for a cutting and conditioning header for a frame-supported tractor in which the angular attitude of the swathgate relative to an airborne stream of crop material being ejected from conditioner apparatus is varied as the header moves vertically with respect to the tractor to optimally direct the crop material toward a rearwardly disposed crop merger conveyor. As the header moves vertically, changes in the angular attitude of the swathgate direct the airborne crop material to generally the same location on the merger conveyor to minimize crop losses that typically occur with a fixed swathgate when the crop trajectory varies directly with the header vertical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. McLean, Robert L. Rice
  • Patent number: 7877975
    Abstract: A windrow merger lift mechanism having on a pair of rotational axes, skewed with respect to each other, to manipulate a merger apparatus between working and non-working positions. When the merger apparatus is in a first, or working position, the lift mechanism positions it to receive crop material from the conditioner rolls with minimal losses. When the merger apparatus is in a second, or non-working position, the lift mechanism positions the merger apparatus to allow crop material to be discharged from the header/conditioner with the same efficiency as a windrower having no installed merger attachment. The skewed axes of the merger lift mechanism optimize the merger position in both the working and non-working positions by moving the merger apparatus in four distinct, but related degrees of motion as the merger apparatus is moved between the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. McLean, Robert L. Rice, David M. DeChristopher
  • Patent number: 7877976
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The center draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. The center draper includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled between the header and draper frames to counteract the weight of the center draper about the pivot so as to reduce the load of the center draper on the cutterbar assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Honas, Christopher T. Sauerwein, Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 7877977
    Abstract: A master link for a chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body member with a first side, a second side positioned opposite the first side, a shoe surface configured to receive a track shoe, and a rail surface positioned opposite the shoe surface. The master link also includes first and second apertures extending through the body member from the first side to the second side and third and fourth apertures located between the first and second apertures. The master link also includes a strut member dividing the third and fourth apertures. The master link also includes a first gap located in the body member and extending from the first aperture to the third aperture and a second gap located in the body member and extending from the fourth aperture to the second aperture. The master link further includes a third gap located in the strut member and extending from the third aperture to the fourth aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Johannsen, Kevin Lee Steiner, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Jeffrey Paul Nash, Jennifer Ann Brooks, Roger L. Recker
  • Patent number: 7877978
    Abstract: In order to construct a power transmission chain, a configuration of a metal sideplate is proposed in the case of which the sideplate has a first end region and a second end region, the first end region having at least two through-holes. The second end region of the sideplate made from metal has a number of elements which corresponds to the number of through-holes, which elements at least partially extend during the construction of a power transmission chain into the respective through-hole of another sideplate, the elements protruding from the plane of the sideplate owing to a forming method, in particular plunging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kabelschlepp GmbH
    Inventors: Christine Heppner, Gerd Schöbel
  • Patent number: 7877979
    Abstract: A combined power generation unit includes a gasification unit with a gasification furnace that is used to produce fuel gas, and a gas turbine that uses the fuel gas to generate power. To produce the fuel gas required in the combined power generation unit according to a required power load, a feed-forward control of the gasification unit is performed. Also, a dead time compensator compensates for a lag and a dead time occurring while the fuel gas is fed from the gasification unit to the combined power generation unit. The gasification unit is operated using a zero flare process. The dead time compensator delays the power load required in the combined power generation unit on the basis of the lag and the dead time of the gasification unit so that the combined power generation unit is operated while a follow-up is performed with a predetermined delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: JGC Corporation
    Inventors: Michihiro Osakabe, Yasuo Kozaki, Hideaki Tanaka, Shunsuke Mishima, Tatsuo Furusako, Kazuyuki Shoumura, Takumi Saisu, Hiroyuki Miyata, Kotaro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7877980
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachinery core operable to generate a flow of pressurized combustion gases at a variable flow rate, while maintaining a substantially constant core pressure ratio; a rotating fan disposed upstream of the core, the fan adapted to extract energy from the core and generate a first flow of air which is compressed at a first pressure ratio; and at least a first bypass duct surrounding the core downstream of the fan adapted to selectively receive at least a first selected portion of the first flow which is compressed at a second pressure ratio lower than the first pressure ratio, and to bypass the first selected portion around the core, thereby varying a bypass ratio of the engine. The fan is adapted to maintain a flow rate of the first flow substantially constant, independent of the bypass ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 7877981
    Abstract: The description relates to a control strategy for assisting regeneration of a particulate filter for a turbocharged diesel V-engine. The engine has two cylinder banks, a first cylinder bank coupled to a first exhaust pipe and a second cylinder bank coupled to a second exhaust pipe. The two exhaust pipes are in communication with one another by a connecting pipe and have two exhaust gas turbochargers each connected in a respective one of the exhaust pipes. The first exhaust pipe being provided with an exhaust shut-off valve in order to operate the engine either with a single turbocharger when the valve is in its closed position or with the two turbochargers when the valve is in its open position. The first exhaust pipe is connected to a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and the second exhaust pipe is connected to a diesel oxidation catalyst and to the DPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Philip James Edward Newman
  • Patent number: 7877982
    Abstract: A device and method for aftertreating exhaust gases in which a controllable valve is used to introduce a supplementary agent in fluid form into the exhaust system at high pressures. The high-pressure promotes an efficient mixture of the supplementary agent for the aftertreatment with the exhaust gas emerging from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Schaller, Georg Weber, Horst Harndorf
  • Patent number: 7877983
    Abstract: An arrangement for supplying a medium to an exhaust line of a combustion engine. The arrangement comprises a first exhaust passage defined by at least a first wall surface of an element, and a dosing device supplying the medium to the first exhaust passage. The arrangement is adapted to maintaining a degree of heating of the first wall surface so that the latter will be at a higher temperature than the medium's vaporization point when the liquid medium is supplied in the first exhaust passage. Therefore, even the medium which reaches the first wall surface will vaporize in the first exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Christian Künkel, Björn Westerberg, Anders Häggkvist
  • Patent number: 7877984
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for maintaining the oxidation of NO to NO2 in an oxidation catalytic converter arranged in a vehicle, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine which in operation emits exhaust gases to an exhaust gas after treatment system including the oxidation catalytic converter. A predetermined quantity of hydrocarbon is delivered to the exhaust gas aftertreatment system or the engine over at least one predetermined time interval for the purpose of maintaining the working temperature or regenerating an exhaust gas aftertreatment unit. The quantity of hydrocarbon is delivered to the exhaust gas aftertreatment system or to the engine through an injection with at least one predetermined fragmentation frequency and an injection period in order to maintain an NO2 production in the exhaust gas aftertreatment system that prevailed immediately prior to said time interval for the hydrocarbon injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Andreas Hinz, Lennart Andersson
  • Patent number: 7877985
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine that performs high pressure PM filter regeneration process by decreasing the degree of opening of an exhaust throttle valve in regenerating the particulate matter trapping capacity of a particulate filter and has as an object to provide a technology that enables to perform the high pressure PM filter regeneration process while suppressing excessive temperature rise of the particulate filter even while the vehicle is moving. According to the invention, a prediction is made, when the high pressure PM filter regeneration process is performed, as to whether there is a possibility that the temperature of the particulate filter will reach a predetermined upper limit temperature, and the pressure inside the particulate filter is controlled in accordance with the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7877986
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating a reductant in an exhaust gas feedstream of a compression-ignition internal combustion engine upstream of a hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The method comprises injecting a quantity of fuel into the exhaust gas subsequent to a combustion event whereat a temperature of the exhaust gas is in a range of 670 K to 1100 K at a start of the injection. The generated reductant comprises an active species including an oxygenated fuel species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Thompson M. Sloane
  • Patent number: 7877987
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system generally includes a particulate filter (PF) that filters particulates from the exhaust wherein an upstream end of the PF receives exhaust from the engine. A grid of electrically resistive material selectively heats exhaust passing through the upstream end to initiate combustion of particulates within the PF. A hydrocarbon adsorbent coating applied to the PF releases hydrocarbons into the exhaust to increase a temperature of the combustion of the particulates within the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Frank Ament
  • Patent number: 7877988
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling soot filter regeneration. The apparatus includes an average temperature module configured to determine an average bed temperature, and a max temperature module configured to calculate a target maximum bed temperature based upon the average bed temperature. The system includes a vehicle having a motor, an exhaust system, an after treatment system, an after treatment controller module, and the apparatus. The method includes determining an average bed temperature, and calculating a target maximum bed temperature based upon the average bed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory H. Henderson, Peter Rauznitz, Greg Emerick, Joseph M. Brault
  • Patent number: 7877989
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes a catalytic converter connected to an exhaust pipe. An exhaust filter is connected to the exhaust pipe downstream from the catalytic converter. The exhaust filter is a charcoal filter that filters particulates from the air flow in the exhaust pipe. The exhaust filter is threadingly engaged with the exhaust pipe and is disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Billy Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7877990
    Abstract: A metering device for introducing an operating medium into an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, the device comprising a cooling system for cooling an injector module of the metering device. The cooling system is provided with a cooling circuit encompassing at least one cooling fluid and at least one cooling device which dissipates heat from the cooling circuit. A first portion of the cooling circuit is disposed at least in part below the cooling device and/or a second portion of the cooling circuit is located at least in part above a point that heats the cooling circuit, especially above the injector module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Buerglin, Dirk Heilig
  • Patent number: 7877991
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device includes an evaporator for evaporating working medium sealed thereinto by exhaust heat from an internal combustion engine, a condenser for cooling the working medium evaporated at the evaporator, and a communication portion for communicating the evaporator with the condenser in an annular shape. The exhaust heat recovery device further includes an internal pressure operating valve adapted to be closed when a pressure of the working medium is equal to or more than a predetermined pressure, and a temperature operating valve adapted to be closed when a temperature of the coolant is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature. The internal pressure operating valve and the temperature operating valve are disposed between a downstream side of the condenser and an upstream side of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyagawa, Kimio Kohara, Seiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7877992
    Abstract: A hydraulic power generation system driven by compression air produced by fluid is provided. The present invention is featured in that it employs more than one group of windmills which can be driven by wind power, or utilizes hydraulic power, such as a river flow, tides at estuaries or bays to drive more than one group of hydraulic turbines. The rotation power of the windmills or the hydraulic turbines then drives a transmission and subsequently drives an air compressor to produce compression air. The compression air is compressed with a specific pressure and collectively stored in an air compression tank. The compression air stored in the air compression tank is guided to a water filled hermetic tank. The hermetic tank is connected with a hermetic water tower having a certain height, in which the hermetic tanks and the hermetic water tower are connected with a communicating pipe by which a pressure can be conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Tien-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 7877993
    Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to simplify the linkage mechanism of a shift operating device and to unitize the shift operating device so as to improve the reliability of assemble accuracy. A forward traveling pedal and a rearward traveling pedal are rotatably supported by a installation plate; the installation plate rotatably supports a shift operating rotary sleeve connected through one link to the basal end of the forward traveling pedal (a forward traveling pedal rotary sleeve) and connected through one link to the basal end of the rearward traveling pedal (a rearward traveling pedal rotary sleeve); the forward traveling pedal, the rearward traveling pedal, the shift operating rotary sleeve and the installation plate are constructed as an integral unit; and the shift operating rotary sleeve is rotated forward and rearward interlockingly with the operation of the forward traveling pedal and the rearward traveling pedal so as to slant swash plates of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor of a HST.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7877994
    Abstract: The stability and power conversion efficiency of a wave energy converter (WEC) which includes a float, a spar and a power taken device (PTO) connected between the spar and the float is increased by connecting a heave plate to the spar in a very secure manner and by carefully limiting the movement between the float and spar to one direction (i.e., up-down motion). Buoyancy chambers may be attached to the WEC to facilitate its transportation and deployment. The WEC may be formed in sections and assembled at, or close to, the point of deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana Bull, James Gerber, William Powers
  • Patent number: 7877995
    Abstract: The amount of buoyancy a object has is based on the amount of liquid the object displaces, and the weight of the object. If a submersed object increases in size its buoyancy increases, and if a submersed object decreases in size its buoyancy decreases. This machine attempts to change the size/buoyancy of a submersed object using only gravity as the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Brian Peter Sandler
  • Patent number: 7877996
    Abstract: A boost system for an engine is described. In one example, the boost system provides air to an engine cylinder via a converging-diverging valve seat. The system can reduce turbocharger lag during some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Al Berger, Thomas Leone
  • Patent number: 7877997
    Abstract: A hydraulically operated wastegate valve control system for a turbocharged internal combustion engine is disclosed. The control system includes a hydraulically operated wastegate valve configured to permit exhaust to bypass a turbine section. A first sensor is configured to sense an actuation of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve by a variable valve actuation mechanism, and a second sensor is configured to detect a turbocharger speed. A controller is configured to deliver a control signal based on a predetermined relationship between the actuation of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves by the variable valve actuation mechanism and the turbocharger speed, and an operator is configured to receive the control signal and control actuation of the hydraulically operated wastegate valve based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Gruel
  • Patent number: 7877999
    Abstract: A thermodynamic engine is configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy. Heat is directed through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the thermodynamic engine. A second side of the thermodynamic engine is coupled to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device. The thermodynamic engine is operated to dispense heat from the second side of the thermodynamic engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device. Operation of the thermodynamic engine thereby generates the nonheat form of energy from the temperature difference established between the first side and the second side of the thermodynamic engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Cool Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Nuel, Lee S. Smith, Samuel P. Weaver, Samuel C. Weaver, Daniel Weaver
  • Patent number: 7878000
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine, including: a primary fuel injector having a central axis for injecting a primary fuel spray into a primary air stream, wherein fuel is provided at a desired rate and droplets of the fuel spray are within a desired size range; a secondary fuel injector positioned radially outwardly of the primary fuel injector for injecting a secondary fuel spray into a secondary air stream spaced radially outwardly of and surrounding the primary air stream; and, a primary air jet positioned between the primary fuel injector and the secondary fuel injector to direct a portion of an incoming air stream between the primary air stream and the secondary air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alfred Albert Mancini, Hukam Chand Mongia
  • Patent number: 7878001
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle 110 having a plurality of swirl vane 130 on an outer peripheral surface thereof is installed within a burner tube 120, with a clearance 121 being provided. Each swirl vane 130 progressively curves from an upstream side toward a downstream side (inclines along a circumferential direction) in order to swirl compressed air A flowing through an air passage 111 to form a swirl air flow a. Here, curvature of each swirl vane 130 is greater on its outer peripheral side than on its inner peripheral side. By suppressing occurrence of an air streamline heading from the inner peripheral side toward the outer peripheral side, therefore, flow velocity on the inner peripheral side and flow velocity on the outer peripheral side become equal, thus preventing flashback on the inner peripheral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Ishizaka, Eisaku Ito, Satoshi Tanimura
  • Patent number: 7878002
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine combustor includes providing a combustor case having a first end, a second end, and a centerline extending there between, coupling an end cover to the case first end, coupling a combustor liner within the case such that the liner is substantially coaxially aligned with respect to the case, and providing a streamline flow conditioner including a body that includes a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, a deflection plate that extends from the body, and coupling the streamline flow conditioner to the case second end such that the streamline flow conditioner is coupled radially between the case and the combustor liner such that the deflection plate is adjacent the case second end. The deflection plate inner surface at least one of extends radially outward with respect to the centerline and defines a plurality of openings within the plate inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Madhavan Narasimhan Poyyapakkam
  • Patent number: 7878003
    Abstract: A fuel control system for a gas turbine engine reheat system has a plurality of fuel metering devices for controlling fuel flow to respective ones of the reheat burners, and a plurality of throttle valves in series with the respective metering devices. One of the throttle valves regulates a pressure difference across its associated metering device and the remaining throttle valves maintain the pressure difference across their respective metering devices equal to that controlled by the aforesaid one throttle valve. The system may include a fuel supply valve which is responsive to a pressure signal controlled by two of the metering devices so that fuel supply from a pump is provided only when both of the two metering devices are open. The pump may include a delivery pressure regulating arrangement responsive to pump delivery pressure and to the highest of the pressures downstream of the metering devices, for regulating pump delivery pressure so as to maintain the metering pressure differences constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Trevor Stanley Smith
  • Patent number: 7878004
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention is directed towards a method and device for optimizing a light-up procedure of a gas turbine engine. An aspect of the method comprises repeating an engine start attempt with amended light-up parameter values or range of light-up parameter values, where the values are amended by a predefined scheme including recording the light-up parameter value or the range of light-up parameter values of each start attempt together with the light-up success rate achieved in the respective start attempts, and optimizing the light-up parameter value or range of parameter values by analyzing the recorded data after the start attempts have been finished. An aspect of the device is to provide a control unit that implements the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gareth Davies, Richard Noden, Dorian Skipper, John Wilkinson, Richard Woods
  • Patent number: 7878005
    Abstract: A bypass turbofan gas turbine engine is started by an electric starter motor that is mounted directly about a downstream end or upstream of the low pressure spool of the engine. This causes air to be driven by a fan through a bypass duct around the engine casing. Closures close to substantially seal an outlet of the bypass duct, and the air is directed into a combustion chamber of the engine and through the turbines causing the high pressure spool to pick up speed for starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen John Bradbrook, Brian Davis, Richard James Wilson
  • Patent number: 7878006
    Abstract: A system and method includes a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor, a current sensor detecting current supplied to the motor, a discharge line temperature sensor detecting discharge line temperature of the compressor, and processing circuitry receiving current data from the current sensor and discharge line temperature data from the discharge line temperature sensor and processing the current data and the discharge line temperature data to determine a capacity of the refrigeration circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung M. Pham
  • Patent number: 7878007
    Abstract: Monitoring method and system are provided for dynamically determining airflow rate through and heat removal rate of an air-conditioning unit, such as a computer room air-conditioning unit. The method includes: sensing inlet and outlet temperatures of fluid passing through a heat exchanger associated with the air-conditioning unit; sensing air temperature at an air inlet side of the heat exchanger; automatically determining at least one of airflow rate through or heat removal rate of the air-conditioning unit, the automatically determining employing the sensed inlet temperature and outlet temperature of fluid passing through the heat exchanger, and the sensed air temperature at the air inlet side of the heat exchanger; and outputting the determined airflow rate through or heat removal rate of the air-conditioning unit. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is an auxiliary air-to-air heat exchanger, and in another embodiment, the heat exchanger is the air-to-liquid heat exchanger of the air-conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 7878008
    Abstract: A smart rack having intelligent wireless climate sensors that detect and report one or more climate conditions is provided. The smart rack includes an enclosure that houses network elements and an array of intelligent wireless climate sensors that form a mesh network. The enclosure of the smart rack includes a console that displays climate measurements and notifications. The intelligent wireless climate sensors perform periodic climate measurements and detect climate conditions in the smart rack. When a climate condition is detected the console of the smart rack graphically displays the climate condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Mateski, David Wayne Haney, Andrew Lee Davey
  • Patent number: 7878009
    Abstract: A cooling unit includes a cabinet with a cooling chamber, a refrigeration system including an evaporator mounted, a compressor, a condenser, and a controller for controlling the cooling unit. The controller has a memory, a processor and an output interface. The controller monitors at least one parameter of the cooling unit, logs in the memory data corresponding to the at least one parameter, and outputs the logged data via the output interface. The cooling unit can include a sensor that monitors a parameter that is logged in memory. The sensor can be a temperature sensor. The logged data can be compared to stored error conditions to detect whether an error condition has occurred. If an error condition has occurred, an error code is logged in memory and can be outputted via the output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: U-Line Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Doberstein, Thomas W. Rand
  • Patent number: 7878010
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling section, a stability judging section, a refrigerant quantity judging section, and a condition changing section. The operation controlling section is capable of performing a refrigerant quantity judging operation to control constituent equipment to reach a predetermined target control value. The stability judging section judges whether or not the refrigerant quantity judging operation has stabilized. The refrigerant quantity judging section judges the adequacy of the refrigerant quantity in the refrigerant circuit by using an operation state quantity of constituent equipment or refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit when it is judged that the refrigerant quantity judging operation has stabilized. The condition changing section changes the target control value in the refrigerant quantity judging operation when it is judged that the refrigerant quantity judging operation has not stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nishimura, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7878011
    Abstract: A method for determining the desired ventilation air temperature of an automatic heating and air-conditioning system of a vehicle having an opening top is described. The open or closed state of the top of the vehicle is detected, and the heating and air-conditioning system is controlled and/or regulated in a number of different ways as a function of the state of the top. In the open state of the top, the desired ventilation air temperature is determined as a function of the speed of the vehicle. Also, in the open state of the top the desired ventilation air temperature is determined in such a manner that the top-closed desired ventilation air temperature is increased by a speed-dependent offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Heil, Robert Salzberger
  • Patent number: 7878012
    Abstract: A portable sprinkler system for a cooling system is disclosed, the portable sprinkler system includes a fluid source coupled to the sprinkler system, a plurality of spray nozzles fluidly connected by conduit, a solenoid connected in series, a protective cover enclosing the sprinkler system, and an electricity source providing electricity to the system. The sprinkler system may be incorporated into an air conditioner cooling system, the sprinkler system includes a portable sprinkler system coupled to the air conditioner cooling system, the portable sprinkler system having a water source coupled thereto, a plurality of spray nozzles fluidly connected by conduit, a chemical injector for inhibiting mineral build-up, a filter, and a solenoid connected in series. The air conditioner cooling system includes a disconnect unit electrically connected to a transformer. A plurality of shields are coupled to the housing of the air conditioner, the shields arranged to deflect air turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Philip A. Orten
  • Patent number: 7878013
    Abstract: A trailer refrigeration system comprising: an electricity generator (22); an electricity-generator engine (21) for driving the electricity generator (22); a converter (23) for converting ac electric power generated by the electricity generator (22) into dc electric power; an inverter (24, 25, 26) including inverters (24), (25), (26) each for converting dc electric power from the converter (23) into ac electric power; a refrigerant circuit (30) having an electric compressor (31) and a fan (35, 36) including fans (35), (36), the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36) being driven respectively by ac electric power from inverters (24), (25), (26); and a control means (40) for individually controlling the speed of rotation of the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Dalkin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumikazu Matsuno, Tetsuo Nakata, Yuzo Sawada, Fumiaki Yakushiji, Yukio Nishihama, Keisuke Kudou, Yasutoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7878014
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprises a plurality of compressors and a plurality of condensing units comprising a first condensing unit having a first control module and at least one additional condensing unit having an additional control module. Each condensing unit has at least one compressor of the plurality of compressors. A communication link is connected to the first control module and at least one additional control module. The first control module controls the plurality of compressors based on communication with the at least one additional control module via the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Akehurst, Hans-Juergen Bersch, Raymond Steils
  • Patent number: 7878015
    Abstract: A radiating apparatus of a built-in refrigerator includes an airflow guide that separates a condenser from a blower fan in order to prevent a cool air and a hot air from mixing together, thereby increasing an efficiency of the built-in refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoung Keun Lim, Youn Seok Lee, Yang Gyu Kim, Se Young Kim, Chan Ho Chun
  • Patent number: 7878016
    Abstract: A system for measuring and managing thermal operations of a processor core on a semiconductor die using a sensor positioned in a hotspot of the processor core. A measured temperature reading is determined based upon a temperature sensed by the sensor. Interrupt signals and a software readable register indicating temperature information provide feedback about the thermal environment to the processor. Based upon the measured temperature reading, the interrupt signals direct the processor to modify operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Efraim Rotem, Jim G. Hermerding, Eric Distefano, Barnes Cooper
  • Patent number: 7878017
    Abstract: A wall-hung type indoor unit includes a casing having an air inlet for indoor air at a front side thereof, and a receiving element provided at a lower portion of the casing and configured to receive a signal transmitted from a remote controller. The casing having a first surface facing the receiving element. The first surface is inclined upward so as to form an angle ? of 30 degrees or less with respect to a horizontal plane in a state in which the casing is attached to the wall. The receiving element is disposed such that a centerline of the receiving element is inclined with respect to an orthogonal plane perpendicular to the first casing surface. The centerline is directed diagonally downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanao Yasutomi
  • Patent number: 7878018
    Abstract: A refrigerator and control method thereof are provided. The refrigerator emits light into a storage compartment formed therein to improve and preserve taste of food items stored therein. The refrigerator may include a light emitting unit to emit light into the storage compartment and onto the food items stored therein to improve and preserve taste of the food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eun Young Park, Yeon Yi Hwang, Seok Min Lim, Eun Jeong Kim, Deul Re Min
  • Patent number: 7878019
    Abstract: A one-piece liquid-level float switch housing and drain line assembly for use with a collection tray or pan to collect condensate and shut off the source of condensate production when it exceeds a pre-established threshold level. The assembly is configured for rapid connection through a pre-formed drain line opening in the perimeter wall of a condensate collection tray/pan to place the deployable float body within its housing in a level orientation relative to the tray/pan without additional leveling adjustment. The housing has an open bottom and vertically-extending slots providing fluid inlet, debris blocking, and air venting functions for enhanced float body operation. The condensate pan/tray used with the assembly has a nesting configuration that includes a perimeter wall with varying combinations of gussets, curved ribs, angled corner configurations, and support shelves, and a central bottom surface with raised patterns, all of which strengthen the tray/pad during installation and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher Ralph Cantolino