Patents Assigned to AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20160252067
    Abstract: A piston may include an outer peripheral surface and a crown. The outer peripheral surface may include first and second openings spaced about and extending through the outer peripheral surface. The crown may include a recess at least partially defined by a first lobe in fluid communication with the first opening and a second lobe in fluid communication with the second opening. Each of the first and second lobes may be recessed relative to an adjacent portion of the recess of the crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav R. JOHNSON, Gary L. HUNTER, Darrell SPARKS
  • Patent number: 9347365
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an exhaust gas recirculation passage and a turbo machine having a first turbine rotationally coupled to a pump. The first turbine may include an expanded air passage. The pump may be arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A pre-cooler may be arranged in the expanded air passage and in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Patent number: 9267553
    Abstract: A transmission includes a housing, a first shaft rotatably supported relative to the housing, and a second shaft rotatably coupled to the first shaft. A switch-type clutch assembly is movable between an engaged state having a first clutch member coupled to a second clutch member and a disengaged state having the first clutch member separated from the second clutch member. The housing rotates with the first shaft when the switch-type clutch assembly is in the engaged state. A friction clutch is movable between an engaged state having a first friction plate coupled to a second friction plate and a disengaged state having the first frication plate separated from the second frication plate. The second shaft is fixed for rotation with the first shaft via the housing when the switch-type clutch assembly and the friction clutch assembly are both in the engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
  • Patent number: 9051900
    Abstract: A radial-mixing exhaust gas recirculation mixer is disclosed having an air supply passage having a convergent portion. An exhaust gas recirculation passage within the convergent portion includes a nozzle having a terminal end. A mixing tube is arranged downstream from the air supply passage and at least a portion of the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A mixing element is disposed in the mixing tube. In one example, a divergent portion is arranged downstream adjoining the mixing tube to increase the pressure of the mixture after the mixing tube. In one example, the exhaust gas recirculation mixer is arranged within an engine such that the air supply passage is in fluid communication with an intake manifold. The exhaust gas recirculation passage is in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold to recirculate a portion of exhaust gas to the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner
  • Publication number: 20140318918
    Abstract: A transmission includes a housing, a first shaft rotatably supported relative to the housing, and a second shaft rotatably coupled to the first shaft. A switch-type clutch assembly is movable between an engaged state having a first clutch member coupled to a second clutch member and a disengaged state having the first clutch member separated from the second clutch member. The housing rotates with the first shaft when the switch-type clutch assembly is in the engaged state. A friction clutch is movable between an engaged state having a first friction plate coupled to a second friction plate and a disengaged state having the first frication plate separated from the second frication plate. The second shaft is fixed for rotation with the first shaft via the housing when the switch-type clutch assembly and the friction clutch assembly are both in the engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
  • Patent number: 8839620
    Abstract: A sliding vane rotary expander is used in a waste heat recovery system for a power plant. One example rotary expander has multiple stages with the vane assemblies disposed in bearing supported rings. Another example rotary expander has multiple stages with the vane assemblies disposed in an elliptical cavity. A balance valve equalizes the flow within the stages. Single stage rotary expanders may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner
  • Patent number: 8835039
    Abstract: A battery module according to one embodiment of this disclosure includes a battery pack including multiple spaced apart battery cells, and a cooling system having multiple cooling plates providing a cooling plenum. The cooling plates are arranged in an alternating relationship between the battery cells, with each cooling plate including at least a first cooling channel and a second cooling channel. The first cooling channel has a first shape and is arranged in a first thermal region, and the second cooling channel has a second shape different than the first shape, and is arranged in a second thermal region different than the first thermal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Franz DeCarli, Chris Hennessy
  • Patent number: 8739531
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant includes a waste heat recovery (WHR) system having an expander driven by waste heat from an internal combustion engine. The expander, which is rotary in one example, rotationally drives a first pump and alternator with which the expander may be packaged as a single unit. The first pump circulates a working fluid when the WHR system is in use to charge an electrical storage device. A second pump is employed to circulate the working fluid when the first pump is not in use, for example. The expander can be bypassed to divert the working fluid to a heater core used to heat engine coolant during cold start conditions, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner
  • Patent number: 8726657
    Abstract: A power plant includes an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine is configured to be driven by the exhaust and drive a compressor that receives air. The compressor is configured to produce the charge air. A second turbo machine is configured to receive the charge air and rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump is configured to receive an EGR from the exhaust and introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air. The power plant also includes an exhaust gas recirculation passage. The second turbo machine includes a turbine rotationally coupled to the pump. The turbine has an expanded air passage, and the pump is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A pre-cooler is arranged in the expanded air passage and in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hunter
  • Publication number: 20140075936
    Abstract: A power plant is provided and may include an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine may be driven by the exhaust and may drive a compressor that receives air and produces the charge air. A second turbo machine may receive the exhaust and may rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump may receive an EGR from the exhaust and may introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Ho TENG, Gerhard REGNER, Gary HUNTER
  • Patent number: 8584458
    Abstract: A power plant includes an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine is configured to be driven by the exhaust and drive a compressor that receives air. The compressor is configured to produce the charge air. A second turbo machine is configured to receive a portion of the exhaust and rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. High temperature and low temperature EGR heat exchangers are arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage serially relative to one another upstream from the pump. A heat exchanger arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the pump. A water separator is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage fluidly between the heat exchanger and the pump. An EGR catalyst is arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage upstream from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner, Gary Hunter
  • Patent number: 6189517
    Abstract: A pressurized fuel tank maintains fuel in its liquid phase and is connected to a fuel pump providing fuel to an accumulator. Control valves control fuel flow to injectors feeding fuel to combustion cylinders. When the engine is shut down, one way check valves connected between the control valves and the injectors close to seal the injectors from the control valves; and at the same time, a dump valve opens to connect the injectors to an adsorber device while an air inlet valve also opens to connect the adsorber device to the engine air inlet. When the engine is restarted, the check valves open and the dump valve and air inlet valve close. Subsequently, a purge valve opens to connect the adsorber device to a source of purge air, while the air inlet valve opens simultaneously. A purge process then occurs, whereupon the purge valve and air inlet valve simultaneously close, and the engine operates with the dump valve, the air inlet valve and the purge valve in closed position until the engine shuts down again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. McCandless
  • Patent number: 6119664
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that is driven by fuels such as dimethyl ether (DME) that have a viscosity less than 1.0 and a storage and delivery system for the fuel that will reduce considerably the emissions of NO.sub.x and particulate. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel injector nozzle valve being forced closed by fuel that has leaked past a solenoid operated valve and is at a pressure less than the valve opening pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. McCandless
  • Patent number: 5816228
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that is driven by fuels such as dimethyl ether (DME) that have a viscosity less than 1.0 and a storage and delivery system for the fuel that will reduce considerably the emissions of NO.sub.x and particulate. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel injector nozzle valve being forced closed by fuel, that has leaked past a solenoid operated valve and is at a pressure less than the valve opening pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. McCandless