Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes an electronic sensor located in a charge air channel, at position between an outlet of a charge air cooler and an air intake component that distributes charge air to cylinder intake ports of the engine. The electronic sensor is disposed to measure a rate of mass airflow between the outlet of the charge air cooler and the intake component and generate electronic signals indicative of the rate of mass airflow from the charge air cooler. A control mechanization of the opposed-piston engine is electrically connected to the electronic sensor for controlling air handling devices, fuel provisioning devices, and/or EGR devices in response to the electronic signals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 25, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2022
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Hoseinali Borhan, David E. Koeberlein, Dwight A. Doig
Abstract: A fuel injector mounting assembly in an opposed-piston engine allows for mounting of a fuel injector in a cylinder block without significantly deforming the wall of the cylinder into which the injector is configured to deliver fuel. The fuel injector mounting assembly includes a clamping arrangement to clamp the fuel injector to the cylinder block, an elongate tubular sleeve that sheathes a nozzle portion of the fuel injector, and a spanner nut attached to the elongate tubular sleeve. Clamping loads applied to retain the fuel injector in the cylinder block are controlled by the spanner nut.
Abstract: In an opposed-piston engine which includes a catalytic aftertreatment device in its exhaust system an exhaust gas condition indicating a catalyst temperature of the aftertreatment device is monitored. When the catalyst temperature is near or below a light-off temperature, a catalyst light-off procedure is executed to elevate the temperature of the catalyst.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 4, 2022
Publication date:
April 28, 2022
Applicant:
ACHATES POWER, INC.
Inventors:
Ahmad Ghazi, DANIEL M. SCHUM, FABIEN G. REDON, SAMRAT M. PATIL, I
Abstract: A cylinder for opposed-piston engines includes a liner with a bore and longitudinally displaced intake and exhaust ports near respective ends thereof. An intermediate portion of the liner between the exhaust and intake ports contains a combustion chamber formed when the end surfaces of a pair of pistons disposed in opposition in the bore are in close mutual proximity. A compression sleeve encircles and reinforces the intermediate portion of the liner. An annular grid of pegs disposed between the intermediate portion and the compression sleeve supports the compression sleeve against the liner and defines a turbulent liquid flow path extending across the intermediate portion in a direction that parallels the longitudinal axis of the liner.
Abstract: In an opposed-piston engine which includes a catalytic aftertreatment device in its exhaust system an exhaust gas condition indicating a catalyst temperature of the aftertreatment device is monitored. When the catalyst temperature is near or below a light-off temperature, a catalyst light-off procedure is executed to elevate the temperature of the catalyst.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2019
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2022
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
Ahmad Ghazi, Daniel M. Schum, Fabien G. Redon, Samrat M. Patil
Abstract: A cylinder assembly with a cylinder liner and a sleeve is provided that includes features that reduce coolant flow stagnation. The sleeve encloses a center section of the cylinder liner to form cooling channels that removes excess heat from the combustion area of the cylinder. The cylinder liner includes features for cooling between bridges in the cylinder's exhaust port.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 16, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 26, 2021
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
Abhishek Sahasrabudhe, Miles Linscott, Sebastian Strauss
Abstract: An exhaust manifold assembly with a thermal barrier coating for an opposed-piston engine reduces heat rejection to coolant, while increasing exhaust temperatures, fuel efficiency, and quicker exhaust after-treatment light-off. The exhaust manifold assembly can include a coating on the inside surface of the manifold assembly. The coated exhaust manifold assembly can ensure structural robustness of the exhaust manifold assembly over a larger range of operating temperatures.
Abstract: A parent bore cylinder block of an internal combustion, opposed-piston engine includes cooling passages that are formed using a 3-D printed casting core. The casting core can include portions that are ceramic. The parent bore cylinder block can include multiple cylinders, each cylinder with cooling passages and turbulence inducing features in those cooling passages, particularly surrounding the central portions of the cylinders.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 25, 2021
Publication date:
August 5, 2021
Applicant:
ACHATES POWER, INC.
Inventors:
Andrew P. Perr, John J. Koszewnik, Gary A. Vrsek
Abstract: A parent bore cylinder block of an internal combustion, opposed-piston engine includes cooling passages that are formed using a 3-D printed casting core. The casting core can include portions that are ceramic. The parent bore cylinder block can include multiple cylinders, each cylinder with cooling passages and turbulence inducing features in those cooling passages, particularly surrounding the central portions of the cylinders.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 25, 2021
Publication date:
August 5, 2021
Applicant:
ACHATES POWER, INC.
Inventors:
Andrew P. Perr, John J. Koszewnik, Gary A. Vrsek
Abstract: A combination for an opposed-piston engine includes an intake piston and an exhaust piston, each with a top land height. The intake piston top land height is less than the exhaust piston top land height.
Abstract: An air intake system is provided that supplies charge air to multiple cylinders in an in-line configuration in an uniflow-scavenged, two-stroke opposed-piston engine. The engine is configured such that the intake ports of the cylinders are situated in one intake chamber within the engine block. The air intake chamber includes a feature to balance the mass of air that reaches the intake port of each cylinder in the engine.
Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes an electronic sensor located in a charge air channel, at position between an outlet of a charge air cooler and an air intake component that distributes charge air to cylinder intake ports of the engine. The electronic sensor is disposed to measure a rate of mass airflow between the outlet of the charge air cooler and the intake component and generate electronic signals indicative of the rate of mass airflow from the charge air cooler. A control mechanization of the opposed-piston engine is electrically connected to the electronic sensor for controlling air handling devices, fuel provisioning devices, and/or EGR devices in response to the electronic signals.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 25, 2019
Publication date:
May 27, 2021
Applicant:
ACHATES POWER, INC.
Inventors:
GOVINDARAJAN KOTHANDARAMAN, Hoseinali Borhan, David E. Koeberlein, Dwight A. Doig
Abstract: A fuel injector mounting assembly in an opposed-piston engine allows for mounting of a fuel injector in a cylinder block without significantly deforming the wall of the cylinder into which the injector is configured to deliver fuel. The fuel injector mounting assembly includes a clamping arrangement to clamp the fuel injector to the cylinder block, an elongate tubular sleeve that sheathes a nozzle portion of the fuel injector, and a spanner nut attached to the elongate tubular sleeve. Clamping loads applied to retain the fuel injector in the cylinder block are controlled by the spanner nut.
Abstract: An air intake system is provided that supplies charge air to multiple cylinders in an in-line configuration in an uniflow-scavenged, two-stroke opposed-piston engine. The engine is configured such that the intake ports of the cylinders are situated in one intake chamber within the engine block. The air intake chamber includes a feature to balance the mass of air that reaches the intake port of each cylinder in the engine.
Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with two crankshafts includes a first power transducer coupled to a first crankshaft of the two crankshafts and a second power transducer coupled to a second crankshaft of the two crankshafts. The two crankshafts are not rotatably connected, and so are free to rotate independently of each other. Phase relationships between the crankshafts may be controlled by operating the power transducers to increase, or reduce, crankshaft torque. Changes in crankshaft phase relationships cause changes in opposed piston locations, which, in turn, enable control of engine performance factors.
Abstract: A parent bore cylinder block of an internal combustion, opposed-piston engine includes cooling passages that are formed using a 3-D printed casting core. The casting core can include portions that are ceramic. The parent bore cylinder block can include multiple cylinders, each cylinder with cooling passages and turbulence inducing features in those cooling passages, particularly surrounding the central portions of the cylinders.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 13, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 27, 2021
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
Andrew P. Perr, John J. Koszewnik, Gary A. Vrsek
Abstract: A cylinder assembly with a cylinder liner and a sleeve is provided that includes features that reduce coolant flow stagnation. The sleeve encloses a center section of the cylinder liner to form cooling channels that removes excess heat from the combustion area of the cylinder. The cylinder liner includes features for cooling between bridges in the cylinder's exhaust port.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 16, 2019
Publication date:
April 22, 2021
Applicant:
ACHATES POWER, INC.
Inventors:
Abhishek Sahasrabudhe, Miles Linscott, Sebastian Strauss
Abstract: The air handling system of an opposed-piston engine is equipped with an externally-assisted pumping element such as an electrically-assisted compressor, an electrically-assisted supercharger, or an electrically-assisted turbocharger.
Abstract: A hybrid drive system has two sources of driving power: a non-combustion drive system to provide mechanical torque and rotation to a driveshaft, and an opposed-piston, internal combustion engine configured to provide energy for the non-combustion drive system.
Abstract: In ported engine constructions, cooling of piston crowns and cylinder liners results in reduction or elimination of bore/liner distortions, thus ensuring circularity of the bore/piston interface throughout engine operation. Consequently, the need for heavily-tensioned piston rings is eliminated. Such engine constructions incorporate annular low-tension compression seals on the pistons, which substantially reduce port bridge wear during all phases of engine operation while also limiting blow-by during combustion.