For Engine Patents (Class 73/116.02)
  • Patent number: 10875075
    Abstract: An automatic feeding system adapted to arrange a variety of components having different shapes comprises a storage apparatus and a first conveying device. The storage apparatus includes loaded storage devices loaded with the components and unloaded storage devices unloaded with the components. The first conveying apparatus includes a pair of first support frames disposed opposite to each other, a loading conveying apparatus mounted between the first support frames and configured to convey the unloaded storage devices to a loading position to load the components thereon and change the unloaded storage devices to loaded storage devices, and an unloading conveying apparatus mounted between the first support frames and configured to receive the loaded storage devices conveyed from the loading position. The unloading conveying apparatus conveys the unloaded storage devices to the loading conveying apparatus after the components on the loaded storage devices are picked up by a pick-up apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Changjun Wang, Dandan Zhang, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Yingcong Deng, Lvhai Hu
  • Patent number: 10775271
    Abstract: A sensor system includes one or more sensors that sense vibrations of a vehicle and one or more processors that can determine a speed of the vehicle and determine whether the vibrations occurring at one or more frequencies of interest (that are based on the speed of the vehicle) indicate damage to a propulsion system of the vehicle. The one or more processors optionally may determine a hunting frequency of a wheel and axle set and/or a lateral acceleration of the wheel and axle set from the vibrations. The one or more processors can determine a conicity of a wheel in the wheel and axle set based on the hunting frequency and/or the lateral acceleration that is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Bret Worden, Jingjun Zhang, David Petersen
  • Patent number: 9500626
    Abstract: A system and method for non-destructive monitoring a component including a guided wave sensor positioned around a surface of the component, wherein the component has a perimeter. A first spring mounting clamp positioned around the component perimeter and a second spring mounting clamp positioned around the component perimeter, wherein the first and second mounting clamps are positioned a distance of 0.1 inches to 5.0 inches on either side of the guided wave sensor. A plurality of elongated springs is attached at a first end to the first spring mounting clamp and attached at a second end to the second spring mounting clamp. The central portion applying a pressure of at least 10 psi to the guided wave sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sergey A. Vinogradov, Matthew L. Capps
  • Publication number: 20140260578
    Abstract: A system and method for testing and maintaining a power assembly of a locomotive diesel engine. In one embodiment of the invention, the testing apparatus comprises: a first test position for securing a strongback of a power assembly; a second test position for securing a cylinder head of the power assembly; and a third test position for securing a cylinder liner. In another embodiment of the invention, the testing method comprises: securing a power assembly to a first test position; removing a cylinder head from the power assembly; securing the cylinder head to a second test position; removing a cylinder liner from the strongback assembly; placing the cylinder liner into the third test position; cleaning the cylinder liner; testing the cylinder head for possible leakage; and re-assembling the power assembly cylinder head passes the leakage tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick E. Keister, Jeff M. Cutright
  • Patent number: 8739617
    Abstract: A system and method for testing and maintaining a power assembly of a locomotive diesel engine. In one embodiment of the invention, the testing apparatus comprises: a first test position for securing a strongback of a power assembly; a second test position for securing a cylinder head of the power assembly; and a third test position for securing a cylinder liner. In another embodiment of the invention, the testing method comprises: securing a power assembly to a first test position; removing a cylinder head from the power assembly; securing the cylinder head to a second test position; removing a cylinder liner from the strongback assembly; placing the cylinder liner into the third test position; cleaning the cylinder liner; testing the cylinder head for possible leakage; and re-assembling the power assembly cylinder head passes the leakage tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick E. Keister, Jeff M. Cutright
  • Publication number: 20130283901
    Abstract: An engine test stand with a single-cylinder internal combustion test engine, having a crankcase accommodating a crankshaft, on which a cylinder housing is exchangeably placed with a cylinder which receives a reciprocating piston. The engine test stand includes and comprising at least one mass-balancing device which is driven by the crankshaft. In order to simplify the reconfiguration of the engine test stand for different engine variants, it is provided that the mass-balancing device is integrated in a base frame fixed to the test stand, with the crankcase being rigidly connected to the base frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Gerhard MAIER, Wilhelm GREYLINGER, Rene KOEGL
  • Patent number: 8534638
    Abstract: A removable stand assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first stand removably mountable to a gas turbine engine on one side of a center of gravity of the gas turbine engine and a second stand removably mountable to the gas turbine engine on a second side of the center of gravity of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Alexander, David Lau, David Eugene Martinez, Brian C. DeDe
  • Patent number: 8448930
    Abstract: A pallet system with a setup pallet (3) for receiving a test component (70) and with a setup pallet receptacle (4) includes a pallet docking plate (64) with a number of pallet media connections (65, 66) on the setup pallet (3), and a receptacle docking unit (10) having a receptacle docking plate (20) with a number of matching receptacle media connections (30, 32) on the setup pallet receptacle (4). The pallet docking plate (64) and/or the receptacle docking plate (20) are/is arranged movably and a movable docking plate (20, 64) can be fed toward the other docking plate (64, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Kienzl, Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 8418542
    Abstract: A test stand assembly includes an electric machine (4) for driving and/or loading a test object (1), which is connected by a connecting shaft (2) having an adapter flange (3) to the electric machine (4). The assembly has a constant, predetermined moment of inertia, and the mass and the moment of inertia of the adapter flange (3) are selected in such a manner that the resonant frequency of the system formed of test object (1), adapter flange (3), connecting flange (2), and electric machine (4) for driving and/or loading the test object (1) lies between the idle frequency and the partial load frequency of the test object (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Mayrhofer, Helmut Kokal, Stefan Dragaschnig, Joachim Schmidt, Gerald Hochmann, Dirk Denger, Martin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8418540
    Abstract: A test stand for an internal combustion engine (1) is equipped with a drive (2) and/or load system (3), a force transmission device (4) with a system (5) for a non-destructive and play-free automatic coupling of the internal combustion engine (1) to the drive (2) and/or load system (3), and a sensor and evaluation system for automatically collecting and evaluating measurement variables. The system (5) for a non-destructive and play-free automatic coupling of the internal combustion engine includes an internally toothed and longitudinally slotted clamping sleeve (12) for receiving an element (13) of the internal combustion engine (1) in a form and force fitting manner, wherein the outer side of the clamping sleeve (12) is conically formed and interacts with a clamping collet (10) which is conically formed on the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schrotter
  • Patent number: 8281653
    Abstract: A test stand for an internal combustion engine is provided with a drive (2) and/or load system (3), a force transmission device (4) for connecting the internal combustion engine with the drive and/or load system (3), and a sensor and evaluation system for automatically collecting and evaluating measurement variables, wherein the force transmission device (4) comprises a system for detecting torque and rotation angle (6), which system is coupled to the internal combustion engine in a torsionally stiff manner, to achieve a coupling between the test object and the system for detecting torque and rotation angle, which coupling is improved for exact measurements, the force transmission device has at least one vibration damper (7) which is arranged on that side of the system for detecting torque and rotation angle (6) which is opposite to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schrotter
  • Patent number: 8191415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test bed (1) for elevation simulation for a test specimen (11), in particular, for an internal combustion engine (11) with a supply chamber (20) in which a supply system (21) is arranged, a testing chamber (10) structurally separate from the supply chamber (20) for holding the test specimen (11), wherein the testing chamber (10) is in fluid connection with the supply chamber (20) and thus conditioning of the settings for the test specimen (11) to be tested can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Stommel, Jan Widdershoven
  • Patent number: 8186206
    Abstract: A powertrain test installation is disclosed that includes a polymer base, which is supported on a concrete slab, for example. A dynamometer is mounted on the polymer base. A frame is mounted to the polymer base and is configured to support a powertrain component to be coupled to the dynamometer. The powertrain test system is installed, for example, by providing a floor, which is a concrete slab, for example. The floor is cut to provide a gap between a support floor and an adjacent floor that is arranged about the support floor. A polymer base is arranged on the support floor interiorly of the gap so that the polymer base is isolated from the adjacent floor. A dynamometer is secured to the polymer base. A frame is secured to the polymer base and is configured to support a powertrain test component, such as an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: AVL North America Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Barnes
  • Publication number: 20120118055
    Abstract: A system and method for testing and maintaining a power assembly of a locomotive diesel engine. In one embodiment of the invention, the testing apparatus comprises: a first test position for securing a strongback of a power assembly; a second test position for securing a cylinder head of the power assembly; and a third test position for securing a cylinder liner. In another embodiment of the invention, the testing method comprises: securing a power assembly to a first test position; removing a cylinder head from the power assembly; securing the cylinder head to a second test position; removing a cylinder liner from the strongback assembly; placing the cylinder liner into the third test position; cleaning the cylinder liner; testing the cylinder head for possible leakage; and re-assembling the power assembly cylinder head passes the leakage tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick E. Keister, Jeff M. Cutright
  • Patent number: 8146410
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for real-time supervision of engine test beds independent of the engine test bed. This supervision system comprises a file describing equipments and drivers associated with engine test beds, and a set of software drivers for controlling engine test bed equipments. These drivers are independent of the software operating environment and of the computer platform of the system. This system also comprises a real-time supervision software for reading the information from the description file and loading the required drivers so that test configurations can be carried out in real time. These configurations come from a test configuration editor specific to the system and are independent of the engine test bed. An application of the invention is for studying of thermal engines or electric motors on test beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: IFP
    Inventor: Mohamed Ould Abdellahi
  • Patent number: 7926336
    Abstract: A dynamometer comprises a frame, an inertial flywheel, and a starter motor. The inertial flywheel is supported by the frame and the starter motor is movably mounted to the frame so as to be selectively engageable with the inertial flywheel. Means is provided for coupling an engine to be tested to the apparatus. The flywheel is brought up to speed by means of the starter motor and then coupled to the engine, which has been separately brought up to speed, via a clutch. The flywheel is supported by the frame in pressurized oil sleeve bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventors: Louis P. Vickio, Jr., Louis P. Vickio, Sr., Edward A. Vickio
  • Publication number: 20110011168
    Abstract: A test stand for an internal combustion engine (1) is equipped with a drive (2) and/or load system (3), a force transmission device (4) with a system (5) for a non-destructive and play-free automatic coupling of the internal combustion engine (1) to the drive (2) and/or load system (3), and a sensor and evaluation system for automatically collecting and evaluating measurement variables. The system (5) for a non-destructive and play-free automatic coupling of the internal combustion engine includes an internally toothed and longitudinally slotted clamping sleeve (12) for receiving an element (13) of the internal combustion engine (1) in a form and force fitting manner, wherein the outer side of the clamping sleeve (12) is conically formed and interacts with a clamping collet (10) which is conically formed on the inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schrotter
  • Publication number: 20110011169
    Abstract: A test stand for an internal combustion engine (1) is provided with a drive (2) and/or load system (3), a force transmission device (4) for connecting the internal combustion engine with the drive and/or load system (3), and a sensor and evaluation system for automatically collecting and evaluating measurement variables, wherein the force transmission device (4) comprises a system for detecting torque and rotation angle (6), which system is coupled to the internal combustion engine in a torsionally stiff manner. To achieve a coupling between the test object and the system for detecting torque and rotation angle, which coupling is improved for exact measurements, the force transmission device has at least one vibration damper (7) which is arranged on that side of the system for detecting torque and rotation angle (6) which is opposite to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schrotter
  • Patent number: 7849734
    Abstract: Test equipment of engine motoring for automatically conducting an engine test includes a conveying mechanism that carries in and carries out an engine to and from a test position, a fixing mechanism that fixes the engine carried in to the test position, a coupling mechanism that directly couples an electrical motor to the engine and can detect drive torque, an encoder that generates a pulse signal as an operating standard in synchronism with rotation of the electrical motor, a plurality of detection units driven to reciprocate so as to be connected to and disconnected from or approach and separate from the engine positioned at the test position and detect a plurality of operating state quantities, a control unit for various driving controls, and a judging unit for judging whether the engine is normal by comparing information obtained by the plurality of detection units with standard information obtained in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hirata Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Moritani, Masahide Maeda, Yoshio Kikukawa, Ryosei Sekiguchi, Tomoya Umeda
  • Patent number: 7726183
    Abstract: In order to make it possible to also mount an original exhaust system (10) substantially leading away from the internal combustion engine (2) below the output axle (7) parallel to the extension thereof in a test rig for internal combustion engines (2), the driving engine or load generator (4) is mounted in a suspended manner at a certain vertical distance from the pedestal (1) on a support arrangement (6) mounted thereon, with the input axle (8) being substantially aligned with the output axle (7) of the internal combustion engine (2) that is to be tested, whereby the space from below the interference contour (9) of the driving engine or load generator (4) to the pedestal remains free for the passage of the exhaust system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Erlach, Peter M. Ziegler, Roland Rathner, Helmut Schneiderbeck, Harald Nonn, Martin Schmidt, Michael Paulweber
  • Patent number: 7726182
    Abstract: An engine test stand assembly includes an elongated front support having a pair of coupling sleeves mounted thereon. The coupling sleeves are coupled to a pair of elongated lateral supports. A pair of receiving members is positioned on the front support to receive ends of an engine hoist to stabilize the hoist with respect to the front support. Each of the lateral supports has one of a pair of vertical mounts attached thereto. The vertical mounts support post members to secure the post members to an associated one of the lateral supports. A pair of engine supports each includes a top end and bottom end. The bottom ends engage the front support and the top ends of the engine supports are abuttable against an engine to hold the engine above the front support. A pair of lower supports mounted on the post members is engageable with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Mark A. Newlin, Lance Newlin
  • Publication number: 20100107749
    Abstract: An environmental test enclosure for modifying the temperature of a vehicle test property is presented. The enclosure includes a movable pallet assembly that is operable to deliver the test property to and from the property test site. The movable pallet assembly includes a base plate that is configured to attach to and support the test property thereon. A plurality of sidewalls project upward from the base plate to surround the test property. A flexible cover is mounted to the overhead structure of the test site, and configured to transition between an open position, in which the cover is in a raised and generally folded state, to a closed position, in which the cover is in a lowered state and attachable to the pallet assembly. The flexible cover cooperates with the movable pallet assembly when attached thereto to define an enclosed and substantially thermally insulated space around the test property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard W. Gushman, Mark D. Womack, David J. Gunnels
  • Publication number: 20100005874
    Abstract: System intended for real-time supervision of engine test beds independent of the engine test bed likely to accommodate it. This supervision system mainly comprises a file describing equipments and drivers associated with various engine test beds, and a set of software drivers for controlling engine test bed equipments. These drivers are independent of the software operating environment and of the computer platform of the system. This system also comprises a real-time supervision software developed to read the information from the description file and to load the required drivers so that test configurations can be carried out in real time. These configurations come from a test configuration editor specific to the system and they are independent of the engine test bed. Application to the study of thermal engines or electric motors on test beds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Mohamed Ould Abdellahi
  • Publication number: 20100005875
    Abstract: A method for monitoring performance test stands having at least one load assembly, which is coupled to a test subject, such as an internal combustion engine, vehicle drive, or drivetrain, comprises ascertaining multiple, possibly derived parameters which characterize the current state of the test stand and evaluating them automatically in regard to the stability of the operating state of the test stand. In order to allow reliable recognition of instabilities in performance test stands of greatly varying configurations in the typical control modes and the reliable online monitoring of the stability of the control circuits on performance test stands in real time with CPU use which conserves resources as much as possible, the standardized parameters are weighted and consolidated into a single index which is characteristic for the current state, and this index is provided for the display and/or as a control variable for the real-time test stand controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Gerhard Pickl, Martin Schmidt, Martin Walcher, Stefan Kanya