By Controlling Free Piston Internal Combustion Engine Patents (Class 417/11)
  • Patent number: 11268461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling gaseous fuel pressure in an accumulator (12) of a fuel system (10) for a combustion engine (102) of a vehicle (100), wherein the method comprises the steps of: determining a nominal amount of gaseous fuel to be introduced into the accumulator; introducing less gaseous fuel into the accumulator than the determined nominal amount by reducing or closing an inlet valve (24), which inlet valve is adapted to regulate input of gaseous fuel to the accumulator; and while the inlet valve is reduced or closed, performing at least one injection of gaseous fuel coming from the accumulator into at least one combustion chamber (104a-f) of the combustion engine by at least one injector (14a-f) of the fuel system, which at least one injection contributes to combustion in the combustion engine, thereby reducing pressure in the accumulator. The invention also relates to a corresponding fuel system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Johan Lindberg
  • Publication number: 20140290956
    Abstract: A pump assembly including a plunger in communication with a pumpable media, a plurality of combustion chambers and a plurality of pistons. Each piston is associated with one of the combustion chambers. The pistons are in communication with the plunger and operatively arranged to together collectively urge the plunger in a pumping direction when the combustion chambers are triggered for displacing the pumpable media with the plunger. Also included is a method of pumping a media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Blake C. Burnette
  • Publication number: 20110052415
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system having a motor, a compressor having a compression device configured to increase a pressure of a gas, a clutch configured to selectively transfer torque from the motor to the compressor to drive the compression device, and a controller configured to disengage the clutch if the pressure of the gas in the compressor meets or exceeds a first threshold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Ross Renner
  • Patent number: 6456508
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a vibrating-type compressor includes a DC power source as well as an inverter including switching elements. The inverter is adapted to convert direct time to alternating current through alternating switching of the switching elements. An inverter control unit is provided for controlling the alternating current supplied from the inverter to the vibrating type compressor. A DC power supply comprises a first power supply including a DC/DC converter. A second power supply is provided including an AC/DC converter. A diode OR circuit is connected to the first and second power supplies. A further circuit is provided which, upon detection of a voltage output from the second power supply, operates to stop the output of the first power supply via a DC/DC converter control unit for controlling the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sawafuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Namai, Naoki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 6171063
    Abstract: A control circuit for vibrating compressors for converting d-c voltage into a-c voltage to supply a-c voltage to a vibrating compressor (1) comprising a MOS-FET transistor (2) for driving the vibrating compressor (1), a timer IC for generating pulses to switch the MOS-FET transistor (2), a timer forced operation circuit for forcibly reversing the output of the timer IC at a timing at which a counter-electromotive voltage generated by the vibrating compressor (1) during the OFF period of the MOS-FET transistor (2) is restored in the vicinity of 0 volts, a driver for driving the MOS-FET transistor (2) based on the output of the timer IC, and a pulse width changing circuit (9) for detecting an input voltage input into the vibrating compressor (1) and lowering the input voltage to the vibrating compressor (1) by changing the pulse width of output pulses of the timer IC when the input voltage is higher than a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sawafuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Namai, Naoki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 5628045
    Abstract: A process for producing sintered parts with high wear resistance and good dynamic strength properties from formed bodies, which have been pressed as green parts from a completely-alloyed air-hardened heat-treatment steel powder with a carbon content of at least 0.3% added in the form of graphite. The process includes sintering the parts under protective gas at a sintering temperature of at least 1000.degree. C. and subsequent cooling. The sintered parts are cooled immediately after sintering from the sintering temperature to a first holding temperature in the range of Ar.sub.3 to a maximum of 150.degree. C. above Ar.sub.3 and are held for a first holding period of 5 to 25 minutes at this temperature (austenitizing phase). Immediately after this, the sintered parts are cooled in accelerated fashion to a second holding temperature by convective gas cooling and are held at this temperature for a second holding period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignees: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft, BT Magnet-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Lindner, Rudolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 4637209
    Abstract: A fluid-driven power plant includes a motor and a combustion energy input device combined in a closed, pressurized system. A balanced cylinder provides variable low pressure fluid storage within the system and also operates the compression stroke of the combustion device. A compression acceleration cylinder in direct fluid communication with the accumulator assists in the compression stroke allowing the balance cylinder to be operated at a lower pressure. An opposed combustion piston configuration balances the forces within the system. A device for monitoring the speed of the combustion pistons allows for compensation for misfires and variations in the heating value of fuel. Apparatus is provided to adjust the sensitivity of the power demand controls and to anticipate a future demand for high power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventor: Garry E. Clark
  • Patent number: 4589380
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a cyclic power mechanism including means providing for a variable dwell between cycles of the mechanism. The mechanism produces energy during each cycle and stores the energy of each cycle for consumption. The variable dwell between cycles is terminated and a new cycle is initiated upon the consumption of a preestablished portion of the stored energy. A preferred embodiment of the mechanism is a free piston engine operation on an Otto cycle. The piston of the engine is restrained after each combustion cycle as the energy of that combustion is stored for use. When a preestablished portion of the stored energy has been consumed, the piston is released and forced into another compression and combustion cycle for further storage of the combustion energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Avalon Research
    Inventor: George L. Coad
  • Patent number: 4507924
    Abstract: The system of this disclosure provides apparatus by which fossil fuel is utilized in the generation of power. The generated power is more efficiently utilized by the apparatus. The system includes an internal combustion process which moves a piston. The piston is directly connected to actuate a special hydraulic pump which provides power fluid to an improved hydraulic motor. Each component of the system is specifically designed respective to the other components of the system to complement one another in a manner to effect an increase in efficiency, and therefore the efficiency gained from each component is added to the efficiency gained by the other components, all of which results in an accumulative gain in power from the total system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventor: Charles W. Hemphill
  • Patent number: 4459084
    Abstract: An internal combustion driven fluid pumping apparatus for accumulating fluid pressure to be applied against a load includes a two-stroke combustion cylinder having a piston drivingly connected to a piston of a linearly disposed compression cylinder, which is in turn connected by a fluid conduit to a pressure accumulator. The accumulator is operatively connected to the compression cylinder such that the frequency of cycles of the combustion cylinder varies with the changes in the demand of the load upon the fluid pressure stored in the accumulator, and such that the speed of the pistons in each individual stroke is substantially constant. To begin each cycle, fluid is forced into the compression cylinder at a pressure less than the pressure of fluid in the accumulator, but sufficient to compress and ignite combustible gases in the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Inventor: Garry E. Clark
  • Patent number: 4382748
    Abstract: A free piston engine pump (FPEP) converts combustion energy into hydraulic power in an efficient, controlled and relatively uncomplicated manner, for example, for vehicle propulsion, auxiliary system power, etc. The FPEP is substantially naturally mass balanced having opposed engine pistons driving respective in-line hydraulic pumps. An adjustable accumulator with a deformable fluid-tight chamber containing a compressible fluid stores and delivers energy for compression, and an arrangement of control valves and check valves enables selective operation of the FPEP in primary (high flow) and secondary (high pressure) modes. Plural FPEP's may be interfaced for parallel operation sharing common elements and functions. Cycle rate, intermittent operation and start-up also may be controlled. Electronic monitoring and control of one or more operational parameters of a FPEP also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Pneumo Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Vanderlaan
  • Patent number: 4308720
    Abstract: A linear engine/hydraulic pump system provides an efficient source of controllable fluid power thay may be used for a hydrostatic drive system of a vehicle. The engine/pump has a prompt first stroke full power capability and capability of prompt power increase from a lower power operation. A supplemental engine (bounce engine) produces output work to operate the power engine of the free piston engine pump during a compression stroke of the latter. The engine is of the opposed piston type with a synchronizer and cross drive to maintain controlled interrelated operational movement of the two oppositely moving pistons thereof while combining output work effort and holding approximately constant the approximate center of mass of the engine. A novel starter also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Assignee: Pneumo Corporation
    Inventor: Jack M. Brandstadter
  • Patent number: 4087205
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system, particularly for a vehicle, having a free piston type engine-pump unit connected to a working fluid circuit for controlling pressurization of a working fluid, which fluid in turn drives a hydraulic motor interconnected to the vehicle wheels. The motor-pump unit includes a free piston assembly having a pair of fixedly connected power pistons, each of which has a pump piston fixed thereto. The fluid system includes high and low pressure accumulators in communication with pumping chambers associated with the pump pistons. The power pistons are used for driving the pump pistons to pressurize the working fluid when self-sustained operation of the engine-pump unit is desired. However, the flow of working fluid to the pumping chambers can be reversed during startup of the engine so that the high pressure fluid is used for driving the free piston assembly until same is reciprocated at a rate rapidly enough to permit self-sustained reciprocation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Inventor: Richard P. Heintz