Patents Assigned to ACHATES POWERS, INC.
  • MINIMIZING OIL LEAKAGE FROM ROCKING JOURNAL BEARINGS
    Publication number: 20170167531
    Abstract: A rocking journal bearing is provided in a piston coupling mechanism. The bearing includes a sleeve and a wristpin constructed with two sets of eccentrically-disposed bearing surfaces which alternate in accepting a compressive load during an operational cycle of the bearing. The sleeve includes a network of grooves to transport oil to the bearing surfaces. Lubricating oil flow through the bearing is minimized by limiting provision of pressurized oil from the wristpin to the network of grooves to portions of the cycle when one or the other of the sets of bearing surfaces receives the compressive load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER,INC.
    Inventors: JOHN M. KESSLER, CLARK A. KLYZA
  • Compact Ported Cylinder Construction For An Opposed-Piston Engine
    Publication number: 20170122185
    Abstract: A compact construction for an opposed-piston engine includes a cylinder liner with longitudinally-spaced exhaust and intake ports in which the exhaust port has inner and outer edges presenting a port height that causes the exhaust port to be fully open before a piston associated with the exhaust port reaches bottom dead center during an expansion stroke and the end surface of the associated piston to be spaced outwardly of the outer edge when the piston is at bottom dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: John M. Kessler
  • Fuel injection with swirl spray patterns in opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9631549
    Abstract: In a fuel injection spray pattern for an opposed piston engine, the individual spray plumes have both radial and tangential components with respect to an injection axis (102, 114, 121), which adds a swirl component to a spray pattern of fuel directly injected into the combustion chamber of the opposed piston engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Neerav Abani, Clark A. Klyza, Fabien G. Redon
  • Gear noise reduction in opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9618108
    Abstract: A quiet-running, multi-layer gear assembly includes a compliant center member sandwiched between a pair of stiff outer members. The compliant center member has an outer peripheral surface with gear teeth. Each of the outer members has an outer peripheral surface with gear teeth disposed in a respective directed axial thrust pattern. The center and outer members are joined on a central hub with their outer peripheral surfaces aligned so as to form a gear assembly with low or no net axial thrust. In some aspects, the compliant center member and the hub include cooperating anti-turn constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Balazs V. Palfai, Michael S. Tebbe
  • MINIMIZING OIL LEAKAGE FROM ROCKING JOURNAL BEARINGS OF TWO-STROKE CYCLE ENGINES
    Publication number: 20170074315
    Abstract: A rocking journal bearing is provided in a piston coupling mechanism of a two-stroke cycle engine. The bearing includes a sleeve and a wristpin constructed with two sets of eccentrically-disposed bearing surfaces which alternate in accepting a compressive load during an operational cycle of the bearing. The sleeve includes a network of grooves to transport oil to the bearing surfaces. Lubricating oil flow through the bearing is minimized by limiting provision of pressurized oil from the wristpin to the network of grooves to portions of the cycle when one or the other of the sets of bearing surfaces receives the compressive load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: JOHN M. KESSLER, CLARK A. KLYZA
  • Combustion chamber constructions for opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9593627
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine includes a squish zone defined between circumferential peripheral areas of opposing end surfaces of the pistons, a cavity defined by one or more bowls in the end surfaces, and at least one injection port that extends radially through the squish zone into the cavity. The cavity has a cross-sectional shape that imposes a tumbling motion on air flowing from the squish zone into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, Fabien G. Redon, Huixian Shen, Michael H. Wahl, Brendan M. Lenski
  • Multi-Speed Planetary Drive For A Supercharger
    Publication number: 20170059008
    Abstract: A multi-speed drive for a supercharger includes a planetary gear mechanism with a sun gear mechanism, a plurality of planet gears mounted on a planet carrier, and a ring gear, all mounted for rotation on a stationary shaft. A rotary-mechanical drive input is received by either the ring gear or the planetary drive, and a rotary-mechanical drive output is provided by the planetary drive when the ring gear receives the input, or by the ring gear when the planetary drive receives the input. A one-way roller clutch is disposed coaxially with the planetary gear mechanism, between the sun gear mechanism and the stationary shaft. A hydraulically-actuated, clutch assembly mounted coaxially with the planetary gear mechanism on the stationary shaft engages the sun gear and the ring gear to change the gear ratio of the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumanth Kashyap, Balazs V. Palfai
  • Air handling constructions for opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9581024
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine has a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders arranged inline, with each cylinder including an intake port longitudinally separated from an exhaust port. The engine is equipped with an air handling system that includes intake and exhaust chambers inside the cylinder block. All of the cylinder intake ports are contained in the intake chamber to receive charge air therein. The intake chamber includes elongated air inlets opening through opposing sides of the cylinder block. The exhaust chamber includes at least one exhaust outlet opening through a side of the cylinder block; all of the cylinder exhaust ports are contained in the exhaust chamber to discharge exhaust thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, John J. Koszewnik, Suramya D. Naik, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Rodrigo Zermeño-Benitez
  • Minimizing oil leakage from rocking journal bearings of two-stroke cycle engines
    Patent number: 9581187
    Abstract: A rocking journal bearing is provided in a piston coupling mechanism of a two-stroke cycle engine. The bearing includes a sleeve and a wristpin constructed with two sets of eccentrically-disposed bearing surfaces which alternate in accepting a compressive load during an operational cycle of the bearing. The sleeve includes a network of grooves to transport oil to the bearing surfaces. Lubricating oil flow through the bearing is minimized by limiting provision of pressurized oil from the wristpin to the network of grooves to portions of the cycle when one or the other of the sets of bearing surfaces receives the compressive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: John M. Kessler, Clark A. Klyza
  • Skewed Combustion Chamber For Opposed-Piston Engines
    Publication number: 20170030262
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine has a rotationally skewed shape in a longitudinal section that is orthogonal to a chamber centerline, between diametrically-opposed openings of the combustion chamber through which fuel is injected. The rotationally skewed shape interacts with swirl to generate a tumble bulk charge air motion structure that increases turbulence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Rishikesh Venugopal
  • Open intake and exhaust chamber constructions for an air handling system of an opposed-piston engine
    Patent number: 9551220
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine has a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders arranged inline, with each cylinder including an intake port longitudinally separated from an exhaust port. The engine's air handling system includes open intake and exhaust chambers in the cylinder block. The open chamber constructions eliminate the need for multi-pipe manifolds and smooth the flow of charge air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Fuqua, John J. Koszewnik, Suramya D. Naik, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Rodrigo Zermeño Benitez
  • PISTON THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN AN OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINE
    Publication number: 20170009700
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes pistons, each piston having an annular cavity in the piston's sidewall and positioned between its crown and ring grooves to block transfer of heat from the crown to the piston body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: ERIC P. DION, RYAN G. MACKENZIE
  • PISTON COOLING CONFIGURATIONS UTILIZING LUBRICATING OIL FROM A BEARING RESERVOIR IN AN OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINE
    Publication number: 20160369740
    Abstract: Pressurized lubricating oil is accumulated in the bearings of opposed pistons and accumulated oil is dispensed therefrom for bearing lubrication and also for cooling the under-crowns of the pistons by jets of oil emitted from the bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWERS, INC.
    Inventor: RYAN G. MACKENZIE
  • LOW REACTIVITY, COMPRESSION-IGNITION, OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINE
    Publication number: 20160369686
    Abstract: A compression-ignition, opposed-piston engine using a low reactivity fuel as an ignition medium manages trapped temperature and trapped combustion residue within, and fuel injection into, the combustion chambers of the engine, and controls the compression ratio of the engine in order to realize reductions in emissions as well as improved fuel consumption efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC
    Inventor: FABIEN G. REDON
  • Cylinder For Opposed-Piston Engines
    Publication number: 20160356241
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Minimizing Oil Leakage From Rocking Journal Bearings Of Two-Stroke Cycle Engines
    Publication number: 20160356308
    Abstract: A rocking journal bearing is provided in a piston coupling mechanism of a two-stroke cycle engine. The bearing includes a sleeve and a wristpin constructed with two sets of eccentrically-disposed bearing surfaces which alternate in accepting a compressive load during an operational cycle of the bearing. The sleeve includes a network of grooves to transport oil to the bearing surfaces. Lubricating oil flow through the bearing is minimized by limiting provision of pressurized oil from the wristpin to the network of grooves to portions of the cycle when one or the other of the sets of bearing surfaces receives the compressive load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: John M. Kessler, Clark A. Klyza
  • Load Transfer Point Offset Of Rocking Journal Wristpins In Uniflow-Scavenged, Opposed-Piston Engines With Phased Crankshafts
    Publication number: 20160356216
    Abstract: Load transfer point offset of rocking journal bearings in uniflow-scavenged, opposed-piston engines with phased crankshafts includes differing offsets for the load transfer points of opposed pistons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Clark A. Klyza
  • System and method for air handling control in opposed-piston engines with uniflow scavenging
    Patent number: 9512790
    Abstract: In an air handling system of a uniflow-scavenged, two-stroke cycle opposed-piston engine, repeatable trapped mass and composition are achieved by determining provision of air handling setpoints that control operation of the engine's air handling system components. In some aspects, these setpoints govern operations of the air handling system by actively controlling the intake manifold pressure (IMP), EGR flow, and exhaust channel backpressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Nishit Nagar
  • Swirl-conserving combustion chamber construction for opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9512779
    Abstract: A combustion chamber construction for opposed-piston engines includes an elongated, bilaterally symmetrical shape referenced to a major axis and a pair of injection ports located on the major axis when the pistons are near respective top center positions. The combustion chamber is defined between a bowl in the end surface of a first piston of a pair of pistons and mirrored ridges protruding from the end surface of a second piston of the pair. Each ridge includes a central portion that curves toward a periphery of the end surface of the second piston and which transitions to flanking portions that curve away from the periphery. The ridge configuration imparts a substantially spherical configuration to a central portion of the combustion chamber where swirling motion of charge air is conserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Fabien G. Redon
  • LOW REACTIVITY, COMPRESSION-IGNITION, OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINE
    Publication number: 20160341104
    Abstract: A compression-ignition, opposed-piston engine using a low reactivity fuel as an ignition medium manages trapped temperature and trapped combustion residue within, and fuel injection into, the combustion chambers of the engine, and controls the compression ratio of the engine in order to realize reductions in emissions as well as improved fuel consumption efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: FABIEN G. REDON