Patents Assigned to ACHATES POWERS, INC.
  • EGR CONSTRUCTIONS FOR OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINES
    Publication number: 20160326993
    Abstract: A two-stroke, opposed-piston engine with one or more ported cylinders and uniflow scavenging includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) construction that provides a portion of the exhaust gasses produced by the engine for mixture with charge air to control the production of NOx during combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: ERIC P. DION, IAIN J.L. READ, FABIEN G. REDON, GERHARD REGNER, MICHAEL H. WAHL
  • Opposed-piston engine having a single crankshaft coupled to the opposed pistons by linkages with pivoted rocker arms
    Patent number: 9488099
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with a single crankshaft has a rocker-type linkage coupling the crankshaft to the pistons that utilizes a rotatable pivot rocker arm with full-contact plain bearings. A rocker-type linkage utilizes a rotatable pivot bearing with an eccentric aspect to vary translation of piston linkage along the axial direction of a cylinder, which shifts the top dead center (TDC) and bottom dead center (BDC) locations of a piston so as to change the volume of charge air compressed during the power stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Oil retention in the bore/piston interfaces of ported cylinders in opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9482153
    Abstract: An opposed piston engine includes at least one cylinder with a bore surface and longitudinally-spaced exhaust and intake ports that open through the sidewall of the cylinder. A pair of opposed pistons is disposed in the cylinder for sliding movement along the bore surface. An oil-retaining surface texture pattern in an interface between the pistons and the bore surface extends in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, aligned with bridges of at least one port. The surface texture pattern includes a plurality of separate recesses on an outside surface of a skirt of each piston. Alternatively, or in addition, the surface texture pattern includes a plurality of separate recesses extending in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, aligned with bridges of at least one port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Steven J. Bethel, Brian J. Callahan, Bryant A. Wagner
  • Piston cooling configurations utilizing lubricating oil from a bearing reservoir in an opposed-piston engine
    Patent number: 9470136
    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 undercrowns of the pistons by jets of oil emitted from the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Ryan G. Mackenzie
  • Piston thermal management in an opposed-piston engine
    Patent number: 9464592
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Eric P. Dion, Ryan G. MacKenzie
  • Cylinder Liner For An Opposed-Piston Engine
    Publication number: 20160290277
    Abstract: A cylinder liner for an opposed-piston engine, and corresponding methods of extending engine durability and thermal management therewith, has opposite ends and a bore with a longitudinal axis for supporting reciprocating movement of a pair of opposed pistons. An intermediate portion of the liner extends between the opposite ends and includes an annular liner portion within which the pistons reach respective TC locations. A liner ring is seated in a portion of the bore in the annular liner portion, between the TC locations, for scraping carbon from top lands of the pistons and/or increasing the thermal resistance of the annular liner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Koszewnik, Bryant A. Wagner
  • Asymmetrically-Shaped Combustion Chamber For Opposed-Piston Engines
    Publication number: 20160290224
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine has an elongated asymmetrical shape in longitudinal section that runs along a chamber centerline, between diametrically-opposed openings of the combustion chamber through which fuel is injected. The asymmetry apportions combustion chamber volume to provide additional clearance on a side of the chamber centerline toward which swirl is directed, thereby giving a fuel plume space to swing without hindrance in response to swirl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: NEERAV ABANI, RYAN G. MACKENZIE, RISHIKESH VENUGOPAL
  • Opposed-piston engine structure with a split cylinder block
    Patent number: 9435290
    Abstract: An engine structure for a multi-cylinder, opposed-piston engine includes a cylinder block with a plurality of inline cylinders. Each cylinder has ends with an outside diameter and an intermediate portion between the ends of a relatively larger outside diameter than the ends. The cylinder block includes a bearing web structure that positions bearing web elements outside of a plane that longitudinally bisects all of the cylinders. The cylinder block is split into two sections so as to permit cylinder liners to be inserted into and removed from cylinder tunnels in the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • HYBRID OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160252004
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine system equipped for full hybrid compressed-air/combustion includes capacity for storing air compressed by the engine during a combustion mode of operation. The hybrid opposed-piston engine system includes a control mechanization for operating the opposed-piston engine in a combustion mode by provision of fuel, in a compressed-air mode by provision of stored compressed air, and in a combustion mode supplemented by provision of stored compressed air. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle equipped with an opposed-piston engine includes storing air compressed by the engine during a combustion mode of operation and operating in the vehicle a compressed-air mode by provision of stored compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: JOHN J. KOSZEWNIK
  • OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINE HAVING A SINGLE CRANKSHAFT COUPLED TO THE OPPOSED PISTONS BY LINKAGES WITH PIVOTED ROCKER ARMS
    Publication number: 20160252014
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with a single crankshaft has a rocker-type linkage coupling the crankshaft to the pistons that utilizes a rotatable pivot rocker arm with full-contact plain bearings. A rocker-type linkage utilizes a rotatable pivot bearing with an eccentric aspect to vary translation of piston linkage along the axial direction of a cylinder, which shifts the top dead center (TDC) and bottom dead center (BDC) locations of a piston so as to change the volume of charge air compressed during the power stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: KEVIN B. FUQUA
  • EGR constructions for opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9410506
    Abstract: A two-stroke, opposed-piston engine with one or more ported cylinders and uniflow scavenging includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) construction that provides a portion of the exhaust gasses produced by the engine for mixture with charge air to control the production of NOx during combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Eric P. Dion, Iain J. L. Read, Fabien G. Redon, Gerhard Regner, Michael H. Wahl
  • Piston Cooling For Opposed-Piston Engines
    Publication number: 20160201544
    Abstract: Pistons for opposed-piston engines include an interior annular cooling gallery. The gallery is provided with inlet and drain passageways constructed to shield a jet of liquid coolant entering the gallery, thereby reducing interference between the incoming jet and liquid coolant circulating in the gallery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan G. MacKenzie, Fabien G. Redon
  • DUAL-FUEL CONSTRUCTIONS FOR OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINES WITH SHAPED COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
    Publication number: 20160195028
    Abstract: A compression-ignited, opposed-piston engine equipped for multi-fuel operation includes at least one cylinder, a pair of pistons slidably disposed in the cylinder for opposing movement between respective bottom and fop center locations, and spaced-apart intake and exhaust ports near respective ends of the cylinder. The pistons include end surfaces constructed to form a shaped combustion chamber when the pistons are near top center locations during a compression stroke of the engine. At least one gaseous fuel injector communicates with the bore of the cylinder through an injector site in the cylinder between the intake port and the exhaust port. At least one liquid fuel injector communicates with the bore through an injector site in the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: FABIEN G. REDON, GERHARD REGNER, RISHIKESH VENUGOPAL
  • On-Board Diagnostics For An Opposed-Piston Engine Equipped With A Supercharger
    Publication number: 20160160781
    Abstract: On-board diagnostic monitoring of a two-stroke cycle, opposed-piston engine includes diagnostic monitoring of an air handling system equipped with a supercharger to determine whether the supercharger is functioning properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishit Nagar, Arunandan Sharma
  • Opposed-piston engine having a single crankshaft coupled to the opposed pistons by linkages with pivoted rocker arms
    Patent number: 9359896
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine with a single crankshaft has a rocker-type linkage coupling the crankshaft to the pistons that utilizes a rotatable pivot rocker arm with full-contact plain bearings. A rocker-type linkage utilizes a rotatable pivot bearing with an eccentric aspect to vary translation of piston linkage along the axial direction of a cylinder, which shifts the top dead center (TDC) and bottom dead center (BDC) locations of a piston so as to change the volume of charge air compressed during the power stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • EGR FOR A TWO-STROKE CYCLE ENGINE WITHOUT A SUPERCHARGER
    Publication number: 20160138499
    Abstract: A two-stroke cycle, turbo-driven, opposed-piston engine with one or more ported cylinders and uniflow scavenging has no supercharger. The engine includes a high pressure EGR loop and a pump in the EGR loop to boost the pressure of the recirculated exhaust products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: ERIC P. DION
  • Impingement cooling of cylinders in opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9341104
    Abstract: A cylinder cooling construction includes a cylinder liner with a sidewall, exhaust and intake ports opening through the sidewall, a bore, and a plurality of feed channels that are formed with and extend along the sidewall from a central band of the cylinder toward the exhaust and intake ports. A sleeve covering the sidewall includes a plurality of impingement jet ports that are arranged in at least one sequence extending around the central band and that are in liquid communication with the plurality of feed channels. An annular member disposed between the liner and the sleeve reinforces the central band. The sleeve further includes an inside surface with spaced-apart annular recesses that with the sidewall define liquid coolant reservoirs in the vicinity of the ports that are in liquid communication with the feed channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Feng Song Liu, Jiongyang Wu, Patrick R. Lee
  • Opposed piston engines with controlled provision of lubricant for lubrication and cooling
    Patent number: 9328692
    Abstract: In multi-cylinder opposed engine constructions provision of lubricant for lubricating bearings, for cooling cylinders, and for cooling pistons includes pumping an inlet stream of lubricant through a gallery in the engine that is in fluid communication with bearing lubricant passages and cylinder coolant passages and providing lubricant from the inlet stream of lubricant into at least one piston coolant manifold in response to a first engine operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Gordon E. Rado, Louis F. Medeiros
  • Combustion chamber constructions for opposed-piston engines
    Patent number: 9309807
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes a ported cylinder and a pair of pistons disposed to reciprocate in the bore of the cylinder. A combustion chamber is defined by opposing shaped piston end surfaces as the pistons approach respective top dead center (TDC) locations in the bore. At the end of scavenging, the shaped end surfaces of the pistons interact with swirl to produce turbulence in the charge air motion in the combustion chamber; the additional bulk motions include tumble. Fuel is injected into the turbulent charge air motion along a major axis, of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Tristan M. Burton, Fabien G. Redon
  • Air Handling Control For Opposed-Piston Engines With Uniflow Scavenging
    Publication number: 20160076468
    Abstract: In an air handling system of a uniflow-scavenged, two-stroke cycle opposed-piston engine, one or more engine operating state parameters are sensed, numerical values of air handling parameters based on trapped conditions in a cylinder of the engine at the last port closing of an engine operating cycle are determined in response to the sensed parameters, the numerical values are evaluated, and one or more of the numerical values is adjusted in response to the evaluation. The adjusted numerical values are used to control charge air flow and EGR flow in the air handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Randy E. Herold, NISHIT NAGAR, FABIEN G. REDON