Patents Issued in March 15, 2012
  • Publication number: 20120060451
    Abstract: An air filter arrangement, an air cleaner assembly including the air filter arrangement and methods of assembly and use are described. An air filter arrangement comprising a serviceable filter cartridge is described. The typical cartridge includes a recessed first flow face and an opposite outwardly projecting second flow face, with a central apex. Features of the cartridge, and an air cleaner for installation into the cartridge, are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: DONALDSON COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Benny Kevin Nelson, Gregory L. Reichter, Bruce Allen Boehrs, Paul Anthony Wendt
  • Publication number: 20120060452
    Abstract: A filter unit and method for removing grease, oil and other particulates from air, for example, in a kitchen environment. The filter unit includes a housing having an upstream side, an downstream side, and a cavity therebetween, a heat exchanger disposed within the cavity and comprising at least two parallel tubes, at least one entrance aperture disposed on the upstream side of the housing and defined by at least one fin, at least one baffle disposed on the downstream side of the housing so as to be oppositely disposed from the at least one entrance aperture, and at least one exit aperture disposed on the downstream side of the housing adjacent the at least one baffle. The baffle and fin define at least one S-shaped flow path through the housing, and the flow path routes air around a downstream side of a first of the at least two tubes and then around an upstream side of a second of the at least two tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: BLISSFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Sikkenga, Robert Prasser
  • Publication number: 20120060453
    Abstract: An air cleaner includes a housing and an air filter element. An endcap of the air filter element provides a removable cover for the housing. The endcap includes removal, insertion, orientation, and retention structure and methods for same. A clamping arrangement is provided with minimal space requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP INC.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Rejeev Dhiman, Kelly Ann Detra, Jim L. Alonzo, Guy J. Moret
  • Publication number: 20120060454
    Abstract: A filter holder assembly includes at least one frame having a peripheral wall and an inwardly directed peripheral edge substantially perpendicular to said peripheral wall and adapted to support a filter. At least one cam lock lever is secured to the peripheral wall at a first predetermined distance from the inwardly directed peripheral edge for compressing the filter in the frame and against said inwardly directed peripheral edge. The cam lock lever has a handle portion at one end thereof and a cam head provided with a cam foot at an opposite end thereof. The cam lock lever is rotatable to cause the cam foot to move between an open position and clamping position where the cam foot exerts a compressive force on the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Francis BANKS, Peter MCGUIGAN
  • Publication number: 20120060455
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air filter pack frame constituted of four profiled elements being held together by angle pieces and surrounding an opening there between, in which a pack of pleated filter medium is intended to be mounted, said profiled elements having a front side, which when a pack of filter medium is mounted in the frame is adjacent to an inlet side thereof, and a rear side, which when a pack of filter medium is mounted in the frame is adjacent to an outlet side thereof. According to the invention an inwardly open sealing channel extends along each profiled elements in the front end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Camfil AB
    Inventor: Michael Lange
  • Publication number: 20120060456
    Abstract: A filter is disclosed herein, the filter having: a plurality of sheets of filter media, each sheet of filter media having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein each of the plurality of sheets of filter media has a first layer of filtration media thermoformed to have a plurality of channels, the first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; a second layer of filtration media sonically welded to a portion of to the first layer of filtration media after the first layer is formed with the plurality of channels, wherein at least one edge of the first layer is not sonically welded to at least one edge of the second layer, and wherein the sheet of filtration media has a plurality of fluid channels each having an inlet opening at the at least one edge of the first layer and the second layer and a sealed end at another end of the sheet; wherein each of the plurality of sheets of filter media are secured together by a strip of adhesive located between each upper surface of each first layer facing the secon
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Philip P. Treier, Christopher R. Reamsnyder, Micheal S. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20120060457
    Abstract: A method for producing a metallic honeycomb body from metallic layers with channels through which an exhaust gas stream can flow, includes providing the honeycomb body with a coating. Such honeycomb bodies are used in exhaust gas systems of preferably mobile internal combustion engines as catalyst carrier bodies, filters, mixers and/or adsorbers. The coating is provided in a two-stage application and enables the production of exceptionally advantageous coated metallic honeycomb bodies, which are distinguished by a large coating surface and a low flow resistance. At the same time, an exceptionally large surface enlargement is provided in the honeycomb body while using a smaller amount of coating. A honeycomb body is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: EMITEC GESELLSCHAFT FUER EMISSIONSTECHNOLOGIE MBH
    Inventor: ROLF BRÜCK
  • Publication number: 20120060458
    Abstract: An agricultural machine including a carrying vehicle and plural work units configured to cut a standing product. The agricultural machine includes at least two front work units arranged, during work and viewed in a direction of forward travel of the carrying vehicle, at the front of the carrying vehicle, and at least two lateral work units arranged, during work, on either side of a work area of the front work units. The front work units and the lateral work units can advantageously be moved with respect to the carrying vehicle to occupy a transport position or a work position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: KUHN S.A.
    Inventors: Jeannot HIRONIMUS, Horst Neuerburg, Olivier Stutzmann, David Bonnin
  • Publication number: 20120060459
    Abstract: An agricultural machine including a carrying vehicle and plural work units configured to cut a standing product. The agricultural machine includes at least two front work units arranged, during work and viewed in a direction of forward travel of the carrying vehicle, at the front of the carrying vehicle, and at least two lateral work units arranged, during work, on either side of a work area of the front work units. The front work units and the lateral work units can advantageously be moved with respect to the carrying vehicle to occupy a transport position or a work position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: KUHN S.A.
    Inventors: Jeannot HIRONIMUS, Horst Neuerburg, Olivier Stutzmann, David Bonnin
  • Publication number: 20120060460
    Abstract: A reel gang mower has a row of front reel cutting units and a row of rear reel cutting units that cut an unbroken swath of grass in each pass. Each cutting unit is connected for propulsion to the mower frame by a four-bar linkage having front and rear pivot links that converge towards a focal point that establishes a virtual pull point through which propulsive force acts on the cutting unit. The rear pivot links can attach to the mower frame at a selected one of different attachment points to thereby longitudinally shift the pull point fore-and-aft relative to the center of gravity of the cutting unit, thus changing the fore-and-aft weight distribution. The rear cutting units in the gang can be configured to have a tail heavy weight distribution relative to the front cutting units to help eliminate marking in the overlap areas between the cutting units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Scott M. Coffin, Dennis J. Berndt, Daniel M. Treu
  • Publication number: 20120060461
    Abstract: A mower having a cutting deck for cutting grass has four drive wheels arranged in a square or rectangular configuration on the mower's frame. Four wheel drive and four wheel steering are employed with the drive wheels. The four wheel drive is provided by a hydraulic drive system that employs a pair of identical serial circuits which have their own pumps with each pump serially sending its output through a rear drive motor and a front drive motor that are catty-corner to one another on the frame, i.e. are on opposite sides of the motor. Various flow crossover paths and flow recirculation paths are provided in the serial circuits to ensure the drive motors receive adequate flow in maximum turns of the mower. The flow recirculation paths around a pair of drive motors at one end of the frame are shut off during reverse and during braking so that all drive motors retain hydraulic braking in these conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Rex R. Bergsten, David H. Torborg, John B. Heckel
  • Publication number: 20120060462
    Abstract: A crop lifter for attachment to a cutting header includes a lifter member adapted for attachment to the header and a lifting finger attached to the lifter member by a quick-attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below the knife. The lifting finger is structurally weak compared to the lifting member such that the lifting finger will readily move when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member or header. The crop lifter or similar crop accessory can have a latch member at a rear end thereof, and a cooperating latch member attached to the header. The accessory latches to the header and a releasable latch lock prevents forward movement of the accessory that would disengage the latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Dave Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20120060463
    Abstract: The present application provides a lubricating oil varnish mitigation system for a turbine engine. The lubricating oil varnish mitigation system may include a lubricating oil circuit with a lubricating oil therein and a hydraulic oil circuit separate from the lubricating oil circuit with a hydraulic oil therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Erwing Calleros, Prasad Gokhale
  • Publication number: 20120060464
    Abstract: In some implementations a propulsion system includes a thrust chamber comprised of a combustion chamber and an expansion nozzle. The thrust chamber has an interior and exterior surfaces and a main propellant injector mounted to the thrust chamber to inject an oxidizer and a fuel into the interior of the thrust chamber. The total fluid flowing to the rocket engine is compromised of oxidizer, fuel, internal film coolant, and external convective coolant. The internal film coolant ranges from about 1% to about 10% of the total fluid. Reduced coolant tubing circumscribes the exterior of the thrust chamber to circulate an external convective coolant, and a nozzle film coolant manifold mounted to the expansion nozzle injects the external convective coolant onto the interior wall of the expansion nozzle, the external convective coolant being about 1% to about 10% of the total fluid flow to the thrust chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: James Robert Grote, Thomas Clayton Pavia
  • Publication number: 20120060465
    Abstract: A device making it possible to better spray the fluid that one wishes to spray by using a portion of the air blast which is intended to diffuse it. The device has a low pressure airflow generator, supplied with ambient air, capable of creating a high-flow-rate compressed air blast in an aerodynamic stream, and a pre-mixing chamber, supplied with compressed air by tapping a portion of the flow at the outlet of the stream using nozzles, provided with aerodynamic swirlers of which the effect are known, supplement the spraying of the fluid carried out by pressurized ejectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard Etcheparre
  • Publication number: 20120060466
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for use in fluid operated equipment to provide air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid in airstreams on a stream side of a wall. An actuator is mounted to be substantially located on a side of the wall opposite the stream side thereof having a positionable motion effector. A heat exchanger core having a plurality of passageway structures therein to enable providing the working fluid to, and removal therefrom. The heat exchanger core is mounted on the motion effector so as to be extendable and retractable thereby through the opening for selected distances into that region to be occupied by the airstreams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Frederick L. Elsaesser
  • Publication number: 20120060467
    Abstract: The fastener fitting (40) has a first fastener zone (42) for fastening to an element (24) of the deployment mechanism. This fastener fitting (40) has two longitudinal arms (46A, 46B) that extend substantially in parallel and in the same direction from the first fastener zone (42). The free ends of these arms that are remote from the first fastener zone are separate, with each arm being provided with a distinct fastener surface (48A, 48B), these respective fastener surfaces together forming the second fastener zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Michel Fiolek, Romain Stephant, Claude Pomies, Noël David
  • Publication number: 20120060468
    Abstract: Propulsion systems and method for making a propulsion system include additively manufacturing a casing body into a single-piece structure having no bonded or bolted joints. The casing body defines a combustion chamber therein and is at least partially composed of a material useful as a solid rocket fuel and capable of being consumed during combustion. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: EXPERIMENTAL PROPULSION LAB, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Dushku, Walter Holemans
  • Publication number: 20120060469
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system having a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, a NOx sensor, and first and second controllers. The first controller compares estimated NOx levels from an SCR model to actual levels from the sensor, and updates the SCR model when the values differ from each other. The second controller evaluates an updating frequency of the SCR model, and executes a control action when the frequency is excessive. A control system includes the sensor and two controllers noted above. A method of diagnosing the exhaust system includes measuring NOx gasses downstream of the SCR device, updating the SCR model when the deviation is present between estimated and measured NOx levels, comparing estimated ammonia (NH3) storage levels from the SCR model to modeled or estimated upper and lower NH3 storage level boundaries to determine excessive updating, and setting a diagnostic code when excessive updating is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Andrew Gady, Min Sun
  • Publication number: 20120060470
    Abstract: Aspirating a fuel combustion engine with non-atmospheric gases to produce exhaust that can be efficiently used as EOR working fluid and/or recirculated in subsequent fuel combustion processes. The EOR working fluid is made up of a combination of gases created in a combustion process in a power-producing fuel combustion engine. This combustion process occurs using a mix of initial combustion ingredients that includes CO2 and relatively pure oxygen in the proportion required by the specific combustion device and the specific hydrocarbon fuel. The oxygen may be produced in lower value off peak periods and is stored until it is required. Where EOR or EGR working fluid has been injected into geologic formations and has then been re-circulated through the production process and provided to the engine combustion gas, there will typically be hydrocarbon components that the present invention makes use of to provide a portion or all of the fuel requirements for the engine power production system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Roger J. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20120060471
    Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system for an internal combustion engine comprises an oxidation catalyst device having a first substrate, a heater, and a second substrate disposed serially between the inlet and the outlet. A hydrocarbon supply is connected to and is in fluid communication with the exhaust system upstream of the oxidation catalyst device for delivery of a hydrocarbon thereto. The heater is configured to oxidize the hydrocarbon therein and to raise the temperature of the second substrate and exhaust gas passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120060472
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system that receives an exhaust flow from a lean-burn engine and a method for treating the exhaust flow are described. The exhaust aftertreatment system may include a three-way-catalyst, an oxidation catalyst, and a NH3—SCR catalyst. The three-way-catalyst passively generates NH3 from native NOX contained in the exhaust flow when an A/F mixture supplied to the engine is cycled from lean to rich. The generated NH3 is then stored in the NH3—SCR catalyst to facilitate NOX reduction when the A/F mixture supplied to the engine is cycled back to lean. The oxidation catalyst is located upstream of the NH3—SCR catalyst and operates to lower the NO to NO2 molar ratio of the NOX fed to the NH3—SCR catalyst. The oxidation catalyst comprises perovskite oxide particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Chang H. Kim, Kevin L. Perry, Paul M. Najt, Kushal Narayanaswamy
  • Publication number: 20120060473
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is coupled to an electric power generator. An exhaust manifold for the engine includes an exhaust gas conduit. A housing includes a catalyst in fluid communication with the conduit to receive exhaust produced by the engine. The catalyst is operable to reduce one or more constituents of the exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Mark E. Turpin, Clayton Smith, Gary A. Salmonson, Brian G. Haupt, Shawn John Kipka, Kurt Butz, Lee Severtson
  • Publication number: 20120060474
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is coupled to an electric power generator. An exhaust manifold for the engine includes an exhaust gas conduit. A housing includes a catalyst in fluid communication with the conduit to receive exhaust produced by the engine. The catalyst is operable to reduce one or more constituents of the exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Mark E. Turpin, Clayton Smith, Gary A. Salmonson, Brian G. Haupt, Shawn John Kipka, Kurt Butz, Lee Severtson, David W. Strombeck
  • Publication number: 20120060475
    Abstract: A method for adapting a thermal model of a catalyst is provided. The method comprises adjusting an amount of exhaust gas reductant upstream of the catalyst based on a thermal model of the catalyst, the thermal model including heat input from exothermic catalyst reactions, an amount of the exothermic heat input adjusted responsive to an estimated temperature from the thermal model and a measured temperature downstream of the catalyst. In this way, a thermal model for catalyst activity and catalyst operating parameters may be adjusted to ensure optimal catalyst function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Publication number: 20120060476
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a pollutant conversion capacity of a catalytically coated, oxidizing exhaust gas after-treatment component in an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, wherein a capacity of the catalytic coating of the exhaust gas after-treatment component for oxidizing NO to NO2 is ascertained from the degree of efficiency of a downstream SCR catalytic converter, characterized in that operating conditions for said exhaust gas after-treatment component are set such that the effects on the SCR catalytic converter are maximized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Tobias Pfister
  • Publication number: 20120060477
    Abstract: An operating method of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including at least a particulate filter for retaining soot from the exhaust gas of an engine and a deNOx catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas of the engine is provided. Operation regimes of the particulate filter and of the deNOx catalytic converter are synchronized with respect to each other for performing regeneration of the particulate filter while the catalytic converter provides a nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency above a predetermined limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Andreas Hinz, Hans Bernler, Carl Landberg
  • Publication number: 20120060478
    Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for diagnosing a diesel combustion catalyst that is located in an exhaust line within a diesel engine system. The method comprising providing an unburned fuel mass flow through the diesel oxidation catalyst, determining the oxidation heat release rate which is related to the exothermic oxidation reactions of the unburned fuel into the diesel oxidation catalyst, integrating the determined oxidation heat release rate on a time interval, integrating the unburned fuel mass flow on the same time interval, dividing the integrated value of oxidation heat release rate and the integrated value of unburned fuel mass flow for determining an efficiency index (DOI) of the diesel oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Vernassa, Francesco Cianflone
  • Publication number: 20120060479
    Abstract: An ECU executes the program including the step acquiring a catalyst temperature when the execution condition for fuel-cut control is satisfied the step selecting a throttle opening degree based on the catalyst temperature; the step executing fuel-cut control; and the step executing return control from fuel-cut control when the condition for returning from fuel-cut control is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Tsukamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20120060480
    Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas purifying apparatus in an internal combustion engine comprising an oxidation accelerator (R1) provided upstream of an exhaust gas purifying member (M) in an exhaust passage (P), fuel adding means (R2) and heating means (R3) positioned upstream of the oxidation accelerator (R1) and control means (C) for controlling operations of the fuel adding means and the heating means. The control means (C) operates only the fuel adding means (R2) when a temperature of the exhaust gas purifying member is within a predetermined temperature range and a flow speed of the exhaust gas is equal to or more than a predetermined speed, and operates the heating means (R3) and the fuel adding means (R2) when the temperature of the exhaust gas purifying member is within the predetermined temperature range and the flow speed of the exhaust gas is less than the predetermined speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mirai Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120060481
    Abstract: A vehicle control device applied to a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrically heated catalyst which is warmed by applying a current, and includes a catalyst carrier supporting a catalyst and a carrier retention unit that retains the catalyst carrier and has an electrical insulation property. The control unit performs a control of suppressing a supply of an unburned gas from the internal combustion engine to the electrically heated catalyst so that the carrier retention unit is maintained at a lower temperature than the catalyst, when a condition for performing a fuel cut of the internal combustion engine during a deceleration is satisfied. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a rapid cooling of the catalyst, and it becomes possible to maintain a temperature of the carrier retention unit at a lower temperature than a temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Noriaki Kumagai, Naoya Takagi
  • Publication number: 20120060482
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a first comparison module that at least one of (i) compares a first temperature of an adsorber to an adsorber release temperature and (ii) compares a second temperature of an engine to a predetermined temperature, and generates a first comparison signal. A second comparison module that compares a particulate matter output of the engine with a predetermined output and generates a second comparison signal. A mode selection module that selects a mode and generates a mode signal based on the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal. A bypass valve control module that adjusts position of a bypass valve to bypass at least one of a particulate matter (PM) filter and the adsorber based on the mode signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120060483
    Abstract: An agricultural machine has an internal combustion engine, a particulate filter disposed in an exhaust-system branch of the internal combustion engine, and an engine control unit designed to control the internal combustion engine in a regeneration phase in such a manner that a temperature is reached in the particulate filter that is required for the regeneration thereof, and to abort an on-going regeneration if at least one operating parameter of the machine that influences the regeneration deviates from a setpoint value. A control device of the machine is provided to predict a time period in which it is likely possible to hold the operating parameter to the setpoint value thereof, and to start regeneration when this time period begins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Elmar Renneke, Kai Brandhofe
  • Publication number: 20120060484
    Abstract: A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles includes an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel. A valve flap is movable between a closed position and an open position, which can selectively close or at least partly clear a flow cross-section of the first or second exhaust gas flow duct. At least one thermoelectric generator module is thermally coupled with the second exhaust gas flow duct and with a cooling circuit. The device also includes an expansion material actuator for temperature-dependent actuation of the valve flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Eder, Marco Ranalli, Martin Adldinger
  • Publication number: 20120060485
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device includes an oil pump for generating a hydraulic pressure by being rotated by power of a driving force source, a driving force source stopping unit that stops rotation of the driving force source when a predetermined condition holds, and a cut-off unit that cuts off transmission of the power from the driving force source to the oil pump when the driving force source rotates in a reverse direction as the rotation of the driving force source is stopped by the driving force source stopping unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Naohiro YAMADA, Keichi Tatewaki, Shinichiro Watanabe, Noritaka Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20120060486
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit includes an oil pump for generating a hydraulic pressure by being rotated by power of a driving force source, a line pressure oil passage in which at least a line pressure generated by adjusting the hydraulic pressure generated by the oil pump is supplied, a driving force source stopping unit that stops the rotation of the driving force source, and a hydraulic pressure reduction suppressing unit that is provided in the line pressure oil passage and suppresses a reduction of the line pressure accompanying reverse rotation of the driving force source when the rotation of the driving force source is stopped by the driving force source stopping unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Naohiro YAMADA, Keichi Tatewaki, Shinichiro Watanabe, Noritaka Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20120060487
    Abstract: In the working machine, first and second pilot flow paths are directly or indirectly connected to to a tank flow path (52). A first restrictor is disposed between the first pilot flow path and the tank flow path. A second restrictor is disposed between the second pilot flow path and the tank flow path. An actuator control unit is configured to control an actuator based on a hydraulic pressure detected by a first hydraulic pressure detector unit and that detected by a second hydraulic pressure detector unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kouya Iizuka, Satoru Nishimura, Hiroshi Yoshida, Hiroaki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20120060488
    Abstract: A hydraulic energy source for supplying a downstream hydraulic system with hydraulic energy. In particular, a hydraulic system for controlling and/or cooling a transmission preferably a dual clutch transmission. The hydraulic energy source enables a first partial volume flow which is produced at a comparatively high system pressure and which is used to supply an actuator of the hydraulic system and a second partial volume flow which is produced at a comparatively low cooling pressure and which is used to cool the hydraulic system, to be produced The hydraulic energy source has an electrically driveable first volume flow source which is used to produce the first partial volume flow and a second volume flow source which is used to produce the second partial volume flow. The second volume flow source is drivingly connected independently of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marco GRETHEL, Martin STAUDINGER
  • Publication number: 20120060489
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating, converting, and/or storing power under the ground level are disclosed. A well buoyancy power system includes a well adapted to hold a liquid and sealed to hold a pressurize gas, a buoyancy engine that can be a conveyor buoyancy engine or an elevator buoyancy engine, a generator coupled to the buoyancy engine, and an air mover located in the bottom air chamber to transmit the pressurized gas into the liquid at the lower part of the well to drive the buoyancy engine. The system may not be sealed and pressurized for cheaper storage of air when not reused. Because the system utilizes underground space, it is safe, low or no noise, non-polluting, and aesthetically neutral for deployment near where power is to be used such as population centers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Rizzi
  • Publication number: 20120060490
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing hydraulic power to a turbine generator. A neutrally buoyant wheel having radially opposed first and second containment chambers is suspended in a reservoir containing a liquid. One chamber is filled with the liquid and the wheel rotated so that the chamber containing the liquid is in an uppermost position, which due to the configuration of the wheel results in the chamber that does not contain liquid being in a lowermost position. The uppermost chamber is coupled to an input port of the hydraulic turbine, the lowermost chamber coupled to an output port of the hydraulic turbine, and the liquid allowed to flow from the uppermost chamber to the lowermost chamber through the hydraulic turbine. After the liquid has drained from the uppermost chamber and filled the lowermost chamber, the wheel is rotated 180 degrees and the process repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: John A. Abdalla
  • Publication number: 20120060491
    Abstract: A rotational actuator assembly employs a first torsion actuator having a shape memory alloy (SMA) tube with a first trained twist direction and a second torsion actuator having a SMA tube with an opposite trained twist direction collinear with the first torsion actuator with abutting proximal ends. A central fitting joins the proximal ends. A control system for temperature control of the first torsion actuator and second torsion actuator about an average temperature provides combined antagonistic rotation of the central fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ian Gunter, Robert T. Ruggeri, James H. Mabe, Darin Arbogast, Ordie D. Butterfield, Daniel Morgenroth
  • Publication number: 20120060492
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an exhaust heat recovery valve is presented. In one embodiment, the method may control an amount of boost provided by a turbocharger to an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Publication number: 20120060493
    Abstract: A hybrid internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a piston disposed within the cylinder, said piston constructed and arranged to reciprocate within said cylinder, and a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder and the top of the piston. The hybrid internal combustion engine also includes an exhaust manifold and a heat exchanger is disposed within the exhaust manifold. A pump disposed between the heat exchanger and a fluid reservoir is provided to deliver fluid to from the reservoir to heat exchanger, whereby the fluid in the heat exchanger is heated and turned into high pressure gas (HPG) when the combustion gases are exhausted from the combustion chamber via the exhaust manifold. The resulting HPG may then be introduced into the combustion chamber to provide a HPG power stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Will Weldon Matthews, Harry Bruce Crower, Tibor Kiss
  • Publication number: 20120060494
    Abstract: A flow rate control valve and a waste-gate valve are operatively linked to a common cam plate, which is driven by an actuator. The cam plate has a first driving portion for rotating the flow rate control valve in a synchronized manner with rotation of the cam plate. The cam plate has a second driving portion for rotating the waste-gate valve in accordance with the rotation of the cam plate, wherein an operational pattern for the waste-gate valve is different from that for the flow rate control valve. As above, two valves are operated by one actuator so as to move independently from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu SATO, Etsugou Yanagida
  • Publication number: 20120060495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbocharger (1) having a wastegate arrangement (6), in which the leakage at the guide of the regulating flap in a multi-stage turbocharger arrangement is reduced. The turbocharger (1) comprises a compressor (2) and a turbine (3). The turbine (3) comprises a turbine housing (4) which has a turbine housing outlet (5), and a wastegate device (6) which has a regulating flap (7). The regulating flap (7) is arranged on a regulating flap shaft (9) which is guided in the turbine housing (4) by means of a bush (8). The bush (8) is provided with an annular groove (11) formed on its inner circumference (10), which annular groove (11) is connected by means of at least one connecting bore (12, 13) to an annular collecting groove (14) which is provided in the turbine housing (3) and which is connected by means of a relief bore (15) to the turbine housing outlet (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Stefan Jacob
  • Publication number: 20120060496
    Abstract: In a sleeve element for the axially fixing at least one bearing of a rotatable shaft, in particular a shaft of an exhaust gas turbocharger, which sleeve element has at least one through-opening in its circumferential surface, the at least one through-opening has a substantially conical shape in the radial direction of the sleeve element at least in a section thereof, and also in a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, which comprises a speed detection device and a sleeve element for axially fixing at least one bearing of a shaft of the turbocharger, wherein the sleeve element has at least one opening through which the speed detection device extends and which has a substantially conical shape in the radial direction of the sleeve element at least in a section thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Gernot Hertweck, Johannes Seuffert
  • Publication number: 20120060497
    Abstract: A method of adjusting an external exhaust gas recirculation mixture in response to engine knock of a spark-ignition turbocharged engine, and related products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWAMER INC.
    Inventor: David B. Roth
  • Publication number: 20120060498
    Abstract: A method for providing intake air to an engine in a vehicle comprises delivering compressed fresh air and EGR to the engine via first and second throttle valves coupled to an intake manifold of the engine. During a higher engine-load condition, an EGR exhaust flow is cooled in a heat exchanger and the cooled EGR exhaust flow is admitting to the intake manifold. During a lower engine-load condition, fresh air is warmed in the heat exchanger, and the warmed fresh air is admitted to the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Allan J. Kotwicki
  • Publication number: 20120060499
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a high-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line with a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. The low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system downstream of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger and opens into a fresh-air system upstream of a compressor of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. An exhaust-gas flap is disposed in the exhaust-gas system downstream from where the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system. At least one pressure sensor is disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and configured such that the at least one pressure sensor determines a pressure difference in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line between a point upstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve and a point downstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Nitzke, Jörg Larink, Jens Jeschke, Thomas Lang, Jürgen Wendt, Achim Freitag, Jörn Müller, Axel Groenendijk, Lothar Nee, Uwe Scher, Werner Aberle, Dieter Mannigel
  • Publication number: 20120060500
    Abstract: A solar thermal panel is disclosed. An example evacuated flat solar thermal panel includes a first evacuated cavity enclosed between first and second layers of material. A second evacuated cavity is enclosed between third and fourth layers of material. A high temperature working fluid cavity is enclosed between the second and third layers of material. A plurality of pillars are disposed between the first and second layers of material, and disposed between the third and fourth layers of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ACCENDO ADVISORS, LLC
    Inventor: Remus Nicolaescu