Patents Issued in September 13, 2011
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Patent number: 8015775Abstract: A lightweight load bearing architectural column is disclosed. The column includes an exterior shell formed of a plurality of walls that together define an open interior. An interior load bearing shaft is within the exterior shell and is proportionally smaller than the exterior shell. One portion of the interior load bearing shaft is connected against one interior wall of the exterior shell with the remaining portions of the interior shaft being independent of the other interior walls of the interior shell.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Sturdicorp, LLCInventors: Brian K. McMullen, Dale R. Fuchs
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Patent number: 8015776Abstract: A product packaging system is provided having a series of selector wedges that engage the lower portions of a series of products moving along a product infeed conveyor. The selector wedges separate the products into product groups for loading into product cartons moving adjacent the product infeed conveyor. At approximately the same time the selector wedges are engaging the products, a series of lugs are conveyed by an overhead lug system into engagement with each of the products being engaged so as to help stabilize the products and prevent tipping of the products as they are separated and loaded into their corresponding product cartons.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.Inventors: Vicenc Alfonso Alfonso, Vicente Marquez Estevez
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Patent number: 8015777Abstract: A plurality of flat tablets are held in containing holes (211) by pinching the circumferential edge of the flat tablet (t) at the lowermost position at the lower end of the containing hole, and then pinching state of the tablet (t) at the lowermost position is released thus dropping the plurality of flat tablets (t) under a flat state into a capsule body (m) arranged below. The capsule body can be surely filled with a predetermined number of flat tablets under a flat state by preventing occurrence of flat tablets under a standing state effectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Qualicaps Co., Ltd.Inventors: Motohiro Yagyu, Ryota Kurimoto, Hideo Okamoto, Tetsuhisa Ishida
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Patent number: 8015778Abstract: In a method for filling bulk goods into containers designed to accommodate a certain number of bulk items, at least one bulk goods conveyor is used to transport the bulk goods towards at least two pickers which are consecutively arranged in the direction of transport. The pickers are used to fill the bulk goods into empty spaces in containers, transported on at least one container conveyor. When the supply of bulk goods decreases or is discontinued, the at least one picker arranged downstream in the direction of transport of the bulk goods conveyor gives preference to containers with a high filling level. Completely empty containers are preferably no longer filled. Thus the bulk goods conveyor can be emptied within a short period and almost all bulk goods are packed without necessitating manual filling of the containers.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Reto Tischhauser
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Patent number: 8015779Abstract: A portioning and packaging apparatus and a portioning and packaging method. The portioning and packaging apparatus has a conveyor device for filling material which has a pump for producing a continuous volume flow, a filling tube which is connected to the conveyor device and which provides a supply of a tubular packaging case such that it can be pulled off the filling tube with the filling material which is expelled through the filling tube, a closure device which is arranged downstream of the filling tube and which locally constricts the filled packaging case to provide a tube end plait portion during the filling operation and closes a closure element around the tube end plait portion. The closure device also has a control device which produces a control signal for the constriction and closure operations on the basis of a selected portion size and the continuous volume flow and outputs it to a drive of the closure device.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Klaus Töpfer
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Patent number: 8015780Abstract: A portable food dispenser includes one or more containers. A first container is capable of being only partially opened to provide access to food or a second container. The second container includes a cover that can be opened to provide access to food.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: LBP Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Matthew R. Cook, Kurt Wolf
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Patent number: 8015781Abstract: A loader includes a sling for supporting a one or more items. The sling is secured on opposite sides of a loading chamber. The loader also includes a lowering mechanism. The lowering mechanism can lower the sling. The loader includes a release mechanism that secures one or both sides of the sling. After the sling is lowered by the lowering mechanism an adequate distance to place the one or more items close to the receptacle, the release mechanism releases one or both sides of the sling, which places the one or more items in or on a receptacle. The loader includes a take-up mechanism attached to one side of the sling. The take-up mechanism takes up the sling when the opposite side of the sling is released by the release mechanism. The loader is capable of inserting close fitting items into receptacles, such as a stack of trays of produce.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Seatal Automation Systems LLC.Inventor: David Max Kent
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Patent number: 8015782Abstract: Cigarette cartons are boxed by a case packer comprising a frame mounted on a base, a feed unit supplying collapsed box blanks, a station at which the boxes are packed, a feed unit by which the cartons are directed along a path running perpendicular to a feed path followed by the blanks, also first and second folding and closing assemblies by which the top end face and the bottom end face of the erected box are formed. The machine base affords a plurality of mounting points arranged symmetrically on either side of a vertical median plane, passing longitudinally through the base, so that the position of the feed unit can be reversed in mirror image relative to the median plane, as also can the positions of the first folding and closing assembly and the second folding and closing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: G.D S.p.A.Inventors: Luca Borderi, Stefano Chergia, Valerio Soli
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Patent number: 8015783Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for manufacturing pouches of a plurality of types having different shapes includes a tubular part, a conveying part and a sealing part. The tubular part is replaceable according to a shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey tubular packaging material along the tubular part with an internal surface of the packaging material facing an external surface of the tubular part. A position of the conveying part with respect to the tubular part is selectively movable according to the shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The sealing part is configured and arranged to seal a prescribed position on the packaging material conveyed by the conveying part.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Iwasa, Makoto Ichikawa
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Patent number: 8015784Abstract: A crop header has generally horizontal flail disks mounted for driven rotation about generally upright axes. A pair of conditioner rolls is mounted in a discharge opening. A crop converging system includes two over-shot auger elements defined by a common auger shaft with an auger flight carried thereon arranged generally longitudinal of the cutter bar so as to carry the cut crop longitudinally of the cutter bar to the entrance opening. Each auger element is arranged with a forwardmost tangent to the auger flight located behind the axes of the rotary disks and with an outer end thereof spaced outwardly of the respective end of the entrance mouth. The common auger shaft is driven by a common rotary drive with the bottom roll of the conditioner rolls. The augers terminate inwardly of the outer end of the cutter bar to locate the drive inboard of the end plates.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.Inventors: Neil Gordon Barnett, Geoffrey U. Snider
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Patent number: 8015785Abstract: A combination grass discharge and mulch plug insert apparatus and method are provided where the insert can include a first end configured for communication with a discharge opening of a lawnmower and a second end also configured for communication with the discharge opening. The first end can be configured for preventing discharge of grass clippings from the lawnmower, whereas the second end can be configured for allowing discharge of grass clippings through the second end. Further, the insert can be reversible such that it can be oriented in either a first position in which the first end is inserted into the discharge opening or a second position in which the second end is attached to the discharge opening. As a result, the lawnmower can be easily converted between mulching and side- or rear-discharge modes of operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Christopher T. Walker, Christopher W. Vaughn, Vincent Andrew Prinzo
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Patent number: 8015786Abstract: A lawnmower including a cut grass storage container for storing cut grass. The lawnmower also includes a cutting blade, a downwardly-opening housing, and a cut grass conveyor passage. The cut grass storage container is provided to the cut grass conveyor passage. Grass that has been cut is delivered to the cut grass conveyor passage while revolving about a shaft inside the housing. A guide member is provided inside the housing. The guide member guides the revolving grass to the cut grass conveyor passage while guiding the grass to the outer periphery of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fumio Minami, Hiroshi Hojo, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kenzo Shimada, Kazuki Shimozono
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Patent number: 8015787Abstract: A particle separator for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The particle separator includes flow dividers operable to divide flow in a gas turbine engine particle separator and flow scavengers operable to scavenge flow in a gas turbine engine particle separator.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Philip Harold Snyder
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Patent number: 8015788Abstract: A heat transfer system is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an annular inlet cowling. The heat transfer system includes at least one heat pipe disposed in contact with an interior of the casing. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the heat pipe and into the inlet cowling.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Justin P. Stephenson, Thomas Ory Moniz, Kattalaicheri Srinivasan Venkataramani
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Patent number: 8015789Abstract: An aero-engine nose cone anti-icing system (10) using a rotating heat pipe (12) is provided to replace the current method of blowing hot compressor bleed air over the nose cone surface. Heat is transferred from a hot source (36) within the engine (22) to the nose cone (18) through a rotating heat pipe (12) along the central shaft (16). A condenser (20) and evaporator (14) are provided which are adapted to the heat transfer requirements and space constraints in the engine (22).Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Joseph Horace Brand, Michael John Dowhan
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Patent number: 8015790Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate a start-up operation of a combined cycle or rankine cycle power plant is provided and includes a plurality of heat pipes, each of which respectively includes a first portion in thermal communication with exhaust emitted from a heat source and a second portion in thermal communication with the first portion, a cooling unit to cool the second portions of the heat pipes, and a controller which is configured to control the cooling unit to cool the second portions of the heat pipes and to thereby remove heat from exhaust via the first portions of the heat pipes.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Jatila Ranasinghe
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Patent number: 8015791Abstract: A fuel controller for a combustion system in a gas turbine having a combustion system, a fuel supply, a pressure control valve proximate the combustion system and a first pressure sensor proximate the pressure control valve, the fuel controller including: a proportional-integrated (PI) logic unit generating a control command for the pressure control valve and receiving input signals representing a desired fuel pressure at the pressure control valve and an input signal from the first pressure sensor representing an actual fuel pressure at the pressure control valve, and a plurality of control gains stored in electronic memory of the controller, wherein each control gain is applicable to a predefined operating condition of the gas turbine, and wherein the controller determines which set of control gains is to be applied by the PI logic unit based on an actual operating condition of the gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Neil Robert Finkbeiner
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Patent number: 8015792Abstract: An engine timing input system is described for pulse detonation engines that allows for accurate engine timing when rotary or cylindrical valves are used to distribute an air/fuel mixture for combustion. The invention uses a profile disk having a predetermined circumferential edge corresponding to valve position to provide for accurate engine timing. A frequency wheel is used in conjunction with the profile disk to provide a more accurate representation of valve position by partitioning the valve position into multiple pulses during each rotation of the rotary or cylindrical valve. The profile disk and frequency wheel when used with programmable timing circuitry signal fuel valve timing and ignition relative to the rotating valve.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Bernard J. Raver
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Patent number: 8015793Abstract: A method and system for heating fuel for a gas turbine engine by using excess heat energy in the engine exhaust gas to heat the fuel and returning the cooled exhaust gas back to the engine exhaust gas stream upstream of an emissions sensor is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a heat exchanger having an exhaust gas passage and a fuel passage, extracting high temperature exhaust gas from the engine exhaust gas stream and passing the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage. Fuel is passed through the fuel passage where excess heat energy in the high temperature exhaust gas is used to heat the fuel. The temperature of the heated fuel is controlled by controlling the flow of the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Darren E. Austin, Stephen J. Young
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Patent number: 8015794Abstract: A variable area flow duct and method. In one embodiment the flow duct includes a plurality of helical vanes arranged around an interior surface wall of the flow duct. The vanes cause secondary flow vortices to be developed in the vicinity of each of the vanes that effectively reduce the interior cross-sectional area of the duct that a primary flow sees as it flows through the duct. In various embodiments fluidic injection is employed to suppress the formation of the secondary flow vortices during certain phases of operation, for example, during an afterburn phase of operation of a jet aircraft engine which the flow duct is being used with. In another embodiment, an ablative coating is used over the vanes to suppress the formation of the secondary flow vortices. The ablative material is removed by the hot fluid flow during an afterburn phase of operation, thus exposing the vanes and enabling the subsequent formation of secondary flow vortices to narrow the cross-sectional area of the throat.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Chad M Winkler, Matthew J Wright
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Patent number: 8015795Abstract: An engine combination for generating forces with a gas turbine engine generating force, and an internal combustion engine provided in the combination as an intermittent combustion engine generating force having an air intake, there being a plurality of air transfer ducts each extending from a different location in the gas turbine engine so as to be capable to provide air in each of those air transfer ducts at one end thereof at pressures differing from one another and connected at the other end of each to the air intake to transfer air thereto.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Brian M. Fentress
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Patent number: 8015796Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section, all arranged about a central axis. A turbine rotor drives a driveshaft for rotation on the central axis. The driveshaft in turn drives at least two fan rotors on axes parallel to, but spaced from, the central axis. The fan rotors each deliver a portion of the air they move into a central inlet for delivering the air to the compressor section. In addition, the majority of the air moved by the plurality of fan rotors passes between a cowl and an outer periphery of a housing for the central core of the engine. This bypass air provides propulsion as is known in the turbojet art.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Michael Babu, Richard E. Domonkos, Philip Shacter
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Patent number: 8015797Abstract: The thrust reverser comprises a first reverser door and a second reverser door asymmetrically pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position, one having a pivot axis closer to the central axis than the other.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Inventor: Jean-Pierre Lair
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Patent number: 8015798Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gear system driven by a first and second counter rotating low pressure shaft and a fan driven by the gear system.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: James W. Norris, Brian D. Merry
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Patent number: 8015799Abstract: There is provided a multicylinder internal combustion engine. Branches of an exhaust manifold are connected to a common exhaust gas sensor via respective exhaust communication passages. The exhaust gas sensor detects the exhaust air-fuel ratio of each cylinder. The distance from exhaust ports of the engine to the exhaust gas sensor is set to be shorter than the distance from the exhaust ports to a catalyst disposed in an exhaust pipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.Inventors: Yasuki Tamura, Kazuhito Kawashima
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Patent number: 8015800Abstract: An engine exhaust passage has an SOx trapping catalyst (11), a particulate filter (13) holding an NOx storing/reducing catalyst, and an NOx storing/reducing catalyst (15) forming a post-treatment system and a fuel feed valve (17) for feeding fuel for post processing in the post-treatment system arranged inside it. When any catalyst has a degree of degradation exceeding a predetermined degree of degradation, the method of feeding the post-treatment fuel is reset so that the post-treatment fuel required for purification of the exhaust gas can be fed into the catalyst with the lowest degree of degradation to make the catalyst with the lowest degree of degradation handle the purification action of the exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohei Yoshida, Takamitsu Asanuma, Shinya Hirota
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Patent number: 8015801Abstract: A method of operating a reductant delivery and storage system of a vehicle, comprising of storing an ammonia-containing fluid in a first storage device, generating ammonia vapors in the first storage device, storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device, purging said stored vapors from the second storage device to an exhaust of the engine, and relieving pressure or vacuum build-up during at least one of said storing and purging is provided via an atmospheric vent coupled in the reductant delivery and storage system.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Oberski, Giovanni Cavataio, Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt, Timothy Webb, William Ruona
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Patent number: 8015802Abstract: An inlet chamber 40 and outlet chamber 50 for exhaust gas are integrated as an inflow/outflow section 80, and a first post treatment device 10 equipped with a DPF 13 at its central portion and second post-treatment device 20 equipped with a urea DeNOx catalyst 23 on its outer periphery side are integrated as a catalyst installation section 70. The catalyst installation section 70, the inflow/outflow section 80, and a communication chamber forming section 30 are provided separately and detachably from one another, and the catalyst installation section 70 is made installable in a reversible manner. As a result, by reversing the catalyst installation section 70, it is possible to easily reverse the DPF 13 without having to extract it from the central part. Further, since the urea DeNOx catalyst 23 is reversed simultaneously, it is possible to change the direction in which the exhaust gas flows therein, thereby enabling to prevent unbalanced deterioration of the urea DeNOx catalyst 23.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiko Nishiyama, Koji Iijima
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Patent number: 8015803Abstract: An operating method for a system including a reformer which in reformate mode can convert hydrocarbon-containing fuel to a hydrogen-rich reformate gas, and a catalytic exhaust gas aftertreatment device which is acted upon by reformer gas to reach the catalytic converter light-off temperature more rapidly. During cold starts, the reformer, after its own starting phase, is initially operated in a so-called lean-burn mode, and the reformer is switched from lean-burn mode to reformate mode as soon as combustible constituents in the catalytic aftertreatment device can be independently oxidized. During the reformer lean-burn mode, the combustible constituents of the engine's exhaust gas react with the hot reformer gas, such that the cumulative exhaust gas flow has the composition of exhaust gas generated by stoichiometric combustion.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengellschaftInventors: Jochem Huber, Michael Preis, Juergen Ringler, Christian Liebl
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Patent number: 8015804Abstract: An ECU executes (300) a program including a step (S202) of opening an electromagnetic ASV (232) while a vacuum pressure ASV (1) and a vacuum pressure ASV (2) are controlled so as to be closed, and an air pump (200) is controlled so as to be stopped in a case where an air amount GA that is an amount of air introduced into an engine (100) is equal to or larger than a predetermined air amount GA (0), and a coolant temperature TW at the starting time of the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined coolant temperature TW (0) (“YES” in step S200); a step (S204) of detecting a pressure; a step (S206) of closing the electromagnetic ASV; and a step (S402) of determining that failure has occurred in at least one of the vacuum pressure ASV (1) and the vacuum pressure ASV (2), that is, one of the vacuum pressure ASV (1) and the vacuum pressure ASV (2) remains in an opened state and cannot be closed when there is a pulsation of the pressure that is detected while the electromagnetic ASV is opened (“YES” in step SType: GrantFiled: August 15, 2005Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomokazu Muraguchi
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Patent number: 8015805Abstract: A method for regenerating an exhaust aftertreatment system, in particular a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine, situated in a vehicle, having regeneration cycles controlled by a control device. An optimized regeneration of the exhaust aftertreatment system is achieved by supplying information relating to the travel route to the control device and controlling the regeneration cycles, taking the information into consideration.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Pfaeffle, Ralf Wirth, Marcel Wuest, Hartmut Lueders, Thomas Hauber
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Patent number: 8015806Abstract: A process and an apparatus for treating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine include at least two exhaust-gas treatment modules. An exhaust gas stream can be at least partly deflected depending on a load state of the internal combustion engine in such a way that at least parts of the exhaust gas flow through one or more modules. This makes it possible to advantageously construct and operate even an exhaust gas system of large-volume internal combustion engines, in which conversion and treatment of the exhaust gas is carried out in individual modules, even in no-load operation, basically at very low exhaust gas mass flow rates. The individual modules can be adapted to various load levels of the internal combustion engine. A rail-borne vehicle and a water-borne vehicle having the apparatus are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbHInventor: Peter Treiber
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Patent number: 8015807Abstract: A sphere circulating apparatus capable of extracting a falling motion energy of a plurality of spheres circulating with repeatedly falling and rising within the apparatus, in which each sphere falls in a falling chamber, dives into liquid at a second liquid surface formed at a lower end of the falling chamber and rises in a rising chamber by the buoyancy force while pushing upward-opening check valves open one after another; each sphere then rises up to a first liquid surface formed at an upper end aperture of the rising chamber and pushes another sphere at the upper end aperture out from the first liquid surface; each sphere pushed out further shifts to an upper end aperture of the falling chamber and falls in the falling chamber toward the second liquid surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Inventor: Ichiro Akutsu
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Patent number: 8015808Abstract: Power plant systems and processes are described that enable recovery of at least a portion of the fuel storage energy associated with a storage system for supplying fuel to the power plant systems. A first embodiment of an energy-recovery power plant system includes at least one fuel storage container and at least one expander that can receive fuel from the fuel storage container at a first pressure and provide the fuel to the power plant at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure. A second embodiment of an energy-recovery power plant system includes a first conduit fluidly coupling the fuel storage container and the power plant for delivering fuel from the fuel storage container to the power plant and at least one regenerative thermodynamic cycle engine thermally coupled to the first conduit such that heat may be exchanged between the fuel and a working fluid for the regenerative thermodynamic cycle engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Surajit Roy, Jean St.-Pierre, Amy E. Nelson, Shanna D. Knights
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Patent number: 8015809Abstract: Systems for operating on an internal combustion engine coupled to an exhaust conduit and an intake conduit include an exhaust gas recirculation conduit in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit, a heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gas recirculation conduit to cool at least a portion of the amount of exhaust, a liquid accumulator adapted to accumulate liquid from at least a portion of the amount of exhaust, and a condensate conduit coupled to the liquid accumulator. Methods of operating an engine include: receiving an exhaust gas recirculation stream from a main exhaust stream, cooling the exhaust gas recirculation stream, removing at least some condensate from the exhaust gas recirculation stream after cooling, and adding at least some of the condensate removed from the exhaust gas recirculation stream to the main exhaust stream and/or to an inlet charge of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Dresser, Inc.Inventor: David Eugene Watson
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Patent number: 8015810Abstract: A lubrication control system includes an accumulator to store oil. The accumulator can be filled with oil during operation of an engine. A control valve can be selectively operated to allow oil stored in the accumulator to flow to a turbocharger. At least one control module can control operation of a hybrid electric vehicle and determine an operating condition of the engine and command the control valve to open and close based on the operating condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Inventor: Mark A. Theobald
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Patent number: 8015811Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for alleviating the problem of windage heating when flow, in a turbine running at full speed, no load, decreases greatly at the exhaust of the high pressure sections of the turbine. Valves connecting the different pressure levels of a heat recovery steam generator to the input of the turbine are adjusted to mix steam coming from the different pressure levels to create desired steam conditions at the inlet and the exhaust output of the turbine that allow the use of existing steam path hardware and thereby reduce the cost of such piping. In an alternative embodiment for a single pressure HRSG, high pressure saturated steam is extracted from the HSRG evaporator and then flashed into superheated steam when passing thru a control valve, that is then used to create the desired steam conditions at the inlet and the exhaust output of the turbine.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Karen J. Tyler, Nestor Hernandez
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Patent number: 8015812Abstract: Power generation systems and methods are provided with features directed to various innovations including ones relating to the conversion of concentrated solar and biomass energy to electricity, load-shifting of electrical power supply systems, gas turbine devices and cycles, and power plant control systems.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Southwest Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James B. Kesseli, Thomas L. Wolf
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Patent number: 8015813Abstract: A fuel injector for injecting fuel into a turbomachine combustion chamber, the injector presenting an injector nose for connection to an injection system fastened to the end wall of said combustion chamber, the injector nose comprising: a first channel for passing a flow of an air/fuel pre-mixture towards the combustion chamber, the first channel opening out into the center of the injector nose via an outlet opening for the air/fuel pre-mixture; an electrical insulator surrounding said outlet opening for the air/fuel pre-mixture; a plasma generator system disposed inside said electrical insulation and downstream from said outlet opening for the air/fuel pre-mixture in order to control ignition and combustion of the air/fuel pre-mixture; a second channel for passing a flow of fuel towards the combustion chamber, the second channel opening out outside said electrical insulation; and a third channel for passing a flow of fuel towards the combustion chamber, this third channel opening out outside the second chType: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Michel Pierre Cazalens, Thomas Olivier Marie Noel
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Patent number: 8015814Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor may have a can-like dilution zone, a primary combustion zone, and a secondary combustion zone. The primary combustion zone may be disposed radially about the can-like dilution zone. The secondary combustion zone may be disposed at an end of the can-like dilution zone to fluidly communicate the primary combustion zone and the can-like dilution zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James J. Callas, David J. White
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Patent number: 8015815Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, and more particularly a novel and unique heatshield structure for a fuel nozzle wherein a labyrinth seal is uniquely provided in the nozzle to isolate a portion of an insulating gap from an interface whereat fuel may enter the insulating gap, and the insulating gap is provided with a positive purge flow for forcing vapors out of the insulating gap.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Parker-Hannifin CorporationInventors: Robert R. Pelletier, Ravi Gudipati, Michael Carrel
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Patent number: 8015816Abstract: A gas turbine fuel injector includes a nozzle body having a radially inner wall proximate to an internal air path and a radially outer wall. An insulative gap is defined between the radially inner and outer walls. The inner and outer walls are adapted and configured for relative axial movement at a first interface. An inhibitor ring is disposed proximate a downstream end of the inner wall for discouraging fuel from entering the insulative gap. A second interface is formed between the downstream end of the inner wall and an upstream end of the inhibitor ring to accommodate relative axial movement of the inner and outer walls.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Delavan IncInventor: Troy Hall
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Patent number: 8015817Abstract: A transition duct for conveying hot combustion gas from a combustor to a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The transition duct includes a panel including a middle subpanel, an inner subpanel spaced from an inner side of the middle subpanel to form an inner plenum, and an outer subpanel spaced from an outer side of the middle subpanel to form an outer plenum. The outer subpanel includes a plurality of outer diffusion holes to meter cooling air into the outer plenum. The middle subpanel includes a plurality of effusion holes to allow cooling air to flow from the outer plenum to the inner plenum. The inner subpanel includes a plurality of film holes for passing a flow of cooling air from the inner plenum through the film holes into an axial gas flow path adjacent to the inner side of the inner subpanel.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard Charron, Gary Snyder, Kenneth K. Landis
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Patent number: 8015818Abstract: A transition duct (30) for a gas turbine engine (2) having improved cooling and reduced stress levels. The transition duct may be formed of two panels ((36, 38) joined together with welds (40) disposed remote from the bent corner regions (34) of the panels. Cooling channels (32) extending longitudinally in the direction of flow of the hot combustion gas carried by the duct are formed within each panel, including the corner regions. Because the entire annular width (W) of the transition duct is cooled, the gap (G) separating adjacent ducts around the inlet to the turbine (4) may be reduced when compared to prior art designs. Two-panel construction with welds remote from the corner regions is facilitated by maintaining the minimum bend radius in the corners (R2) and in the direction of flow (R4) to be greater than in prior art designs.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Jody W. Wilson, Raymond Scott Nordlund, Adam Weaver
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Patent number: 8015819Abstract: Disposed at or toward the trailing edge of one or more nozzles associated with a jet engine are injection ports which can selectively be made to discharge a water stream into a nozzle flow stream for the purpose of increasing turbulence in somewhat of a similar fashion as mechanically disposed chevrons have done in the known art. Unlike mechanically disposed chevrons of the known art, the fluid flow may be secured thereby increasing the engine efficiency. Various flow patterns, water pressures, orifice designs or other factors can be made operative to provide desired performance characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Russell H. Thomas, Kevin W. Kinzie
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Patent number: 8015820Abstract: A gas turbine exhaust component, such as an exhaust nozzle, is provided that includes circumferential ribs arranged along a longitudinal axis. Longitudinal strakes are supported by the circumferential ribs and arranged about the longitudinal axis. Fastening elements are used to secure the longitudinal strakes to one another to provide a desired exhaust component contour. In one example, fastening elements are used to secure the longitudinal strakes to the circumferential ribs using a bracket. The longitudinal strakes are preformed into the desired exhaust component contour, using low cost forming methods. The longitudinal strakes are formed to fit the circumferential ribs and provide the desired exhaust component contour. The longitudinal strakes are secured to one another to maintain the desired exhaust component contour. The longitudinal strakes may be provided by a low cost steel, in one example.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Andrew H. Harris, Raymond E. Konikowski
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Patent number: 8015821Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for an entrainment system of a vortex burning combustion chamber or a vortex burning inter-turbine burner in a gas turbine. The entrainment system rapidly and thoroughly mixes hot combustion gases with non-combustion gases to reduce the gas temperature before entering a turbine. The entrainment system includes a plurality of helical vanes forming trenches and resulting in a highly helical flow path. The highly helical flow path provides an increased residence time for mixing of the combustion gases and non-combustion gases. Radial cavities in the helical vanes, canted vane angles and varying geometries further facilitate mixing while reducing losses. This invention also includes a method of mixing combustion and non-combustion gases in an entrainment system.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Spytek Aerospace CorporationInventor: Christopher J. Spytek
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Patent number: 8015822Abstract: The present invention takes the form of a method and system that may reduce the level of SOx emissions by recirculating a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine; the portion of exhaust may be mixed with the inlet air prior to re-entering the turbomachine. The present invention may incorporate an inlet bleed heat system to reduce the likelihood of the liquid products forming from SOx emissions. Here, a method may maintain a temperature of the inlet fluid above a condensation temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jatila Ranasinghe, Elizabeth F. Brown
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Patent number: 8015823Abstract: An aircraft system includes a heat source and a passage near the heat source for carrying fluid having a cooling capacity to cool the heat source. The passage includes a catalyst that endothermically cracks the fluid to increase the cooling capacity.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Thomas Henry Vanderspurt, Zissis A. Dardas
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Patent number: 8015824Abstract: A method and system for regulating a cooling fluid within a turbomachine in real time. The system may an external flow conditioning system for adjusting at least one property of the cooling fluid, wherein the external flow conditioning system comprises an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The system may also include at least one heat exchanger; at least one control valve; at least one bypass orifice; at least one stop valve; and a control system.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sivaraman Vedhagiri, Ravi Meenaksh, Jesse E. Trout, Jun Yang