Patents Assigned to Engineering
  • Apparatus for unwinding flexible cables on seabeds
    Patent number: 10077096
    Abstract: The present invention regards an apparatus for unwinding flexible cables on seabeds, which comprises: two first towers (2), each provided with a corresponding first vertical guide seat (5), two second towers (6), each provided with a second vertical guide seat (7), and two hub-holder groups (8), each of which slidably constrained to the second guide seat (7) of the corresponding second tower (6) and carrying, rotatably mounted thereon, a corresponding hub (3). Each second tower (6) can be moved between a first operating configuration, in which the second tower (6) is slidably constrained in the first guide seat (5) of the corresponding first tower (2), and a second operating configuration, in which the second tower (6) is arranged outside the first guide seat (5) of the corresponding first tower (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: INNOVO ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION LTD.
    Inventors: Andrea Tiberio, Stefano Malagodi
  • Methods and systems for marine sulfur dioxide emission reduction
    Patent number: 10076724
    Abstract: Improved methods and systems are provided for the on-board removal of sulfur dioxide generated by a marine vessel. The method includes spraying an alkaline fluid into the flue gas to produce a saturated flue gas stream containing the alkaline fluid; and flowing the saturated flue gas stream containing the alkaline fluid through a venturi to cause the particulates in the flue gas to impact the alkaline fluid and react at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide with the alkaline fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen C. Codoluto, Venkatesh Subramania
  • Air operated pump
    Patent number: 10077763
    Abstract: An air-driven pump includes a source of compressed air, a vacuum source including a venturi and two pump units with structurally independent pumping elements dividing pump chambers from air chambers. A directional control valve is in communication with the source of compressed air, the vacuum source, the pump unit air chambers. The directional control valve includes two valve positions alternating communication of the source of compressed air and the vacuum source with the air chambers. A pilot valve system shifts the directional control valve between the two valve positions at end of stroke positions of the pump and includes actuators extending into the air chambers to engage the pumping elements with the air chambers contracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: WILDEN PUMP AND ENGINEERING LLC
    Inventor: Carl Glauber
  • Downhole system with integrated backup sensors
    Patent number: 10078154
    Abstract: A downhole system comprises a main sensor, such as a gamma sensor, and a backup sensor. The backup sensor may be of a different type from the main sensor. In some embodiments the backup sensor is a high reliability sensor that may have a different sensitivity from the main sensor. The system operates both the main and backup sensors and generates calibration data for the backup sensor. If the main sensor fails the calibration data may be applied to process data from the backup sensor to yield an estimate of the data that the main sensor would have yielded if it had remained operational. The calibration data may compensate for temperature variations and/or temporal drift, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron William Logan, Patrick R. Derkacz, Justin C. Logan, Barry Daniel Buternowsky, Mojtaba Kazemi Miraki
  • Tandem biochemical and thermochemical conversion of algal biomass
    Patent number: 10077454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and system configured to convert algal biomass into biofuels, alcohols, nutrients, biochar, chemical building block compounds, and/or other useful by-products. Exemplary methods include an integrated biochemical and thermochemical process that provides high purity biofuels and mixed alcohols, while minimizing waste and/or maximizing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan W. Davis, Anthe George, Todd W. Lane, Ronald C. Pate, Benjamin C. Wu
  • Method and system for automatic code generation
    Patent number: 10078500
    Abstract: A method for generating production code from a block diagram on a host computer is provided. A block in the block diagram has a number of input ports for receiving signals and a number of output ports for sending signals. The processor identifies a first block in the block diagram. The input signal is traced back to a second block upstream of the first block. Compliance with a optimization condition is checked, the optimization condition being fulfilled when a group of adjacent blocks has an assignment operation that affects one or more elements of the input signal while leaving at least one element of the composite variable unchanged. A combined production code is generated for the group of adjacent blocks when the optimization condition is fulfilled so that the combined production code includes write instructions for those elements of the composite variable that are affected by the assignment operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: dSPACE digital signal processing and control engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Moors, Michael Mair, Tanja Moldenhauer, Volker Straetgen
  • Highly mobile vehicle suspension system with blast mitigation features
    Patent number: 10077974
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is disclosed a modular, blast resistant suspension module for an armored vehicle. Each suspension module has a first and second axle assembly. The first axle assembly has a Short-Long Arm (SLA) suspension system pivotally connected to a blast resistant differential housing and the second axle assembly has a Road Arm (RA) suspension system pivotally connected to the differential housing. The suspension modules may be used to form 4×4 or 8×8 vehicle configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans, Benjamin J. Wright
  • Demountable vehicle implement
    Patent number: 10077542
    Abstract: A demountable implement (10) for a vehicle has a mounting arrangement (16) for mounting the implement onto a vehicle. The implement is selectively jettisonable from the vehicle and jettison members (42) for jettisoning the implement are provided on or by the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: PEARSON ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventor: Graham Emmerson
  • Superconducting electrical machine with double re-entrant ends for minimizing heat leak
    Patent number: 10077955
    Abstract: A superconducting electrical machine includes at least one re-entrant end including at least two segments. The at least two segments are continuous. At least one re-entrant end may be included in a stator of the superconducting electrical machine, the stator being disposed substantially coannular with a longitudinal axis. At least one re-entrant end may also be included in a rotor of the superconducting electrical machine, the rotor being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. A first segment is substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second segment is coannular with the longitudinal axis. Heat distal from rotor windings and/or stator windings encounters a thermal resistance provided by the at least two segments as the heat travels towards the rotor windings and/or stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KATO ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Darrell Morrison
  • Cargo transport system including motorized pallet
    Patent number: 10077158
    Abstract: A cargo transport system includes a cassette for transporting a workpiece and dolly for transporting the cassette. The dolly includes a dolly frame and at least one wheel attached to the dolly frame for supporting the dolly on a surface. A track plate is attached to the dolly frame. The cassette is moveably mountable on the dolly and includes a cassette frame having first and second cassette conveyors engagable with the dolly for moveably supporting the cassette on the dolly. A first drive wheel is attached to the cassette frame between the first and second cassette conveyors. The first drive wheel is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and is operable for moving the cassette along a path-of-travel relative to the dolly. A location of the first axis of rotation is continuously adjustable relative to the cassette frame as the cassette moves along the path-of-travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Lee, Darren Eric Valad, Tony V. Cortina, Cristian Ignat, Raymond David Givens, Christopher William Garland
  • Ray tracing for hidden obstacle detection
    Patent number: 10078335
    Abstract: Ray tracing can be used to detect hidden obstacles in an external environment of a vehicle. An outbound sensor signal can be transmitted into an external environment of the vehicle. The outbound sensor signal can be a LIDAR sensor signal. If a return sensor signal is not received for the outbound sensor signal, it can be determined whether an obstacle is located along a projected path of the outbound sensor signal. Such a determination can be made using one or more maps, such as a terrain map and/or a static obstacle map. Responsive to determining that an obstacle is located along the projected path of the outbound sensor signal, a driving maneuver for the vehicle relative to the obstacle can be determined. The vehicle can be caused to implement the determined driving maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Xue Mei, Katsuhiro Sakai, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Superconducting electrical machine with rotor and stator having separate cryostats
    Patent number: 10079534
    Abstract: A superconducting electrical machine includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes rotor windings configured to superconduct when cooled in a rotor cryostat to a temperature no greater than a rotor superconducting temperature. The stator includes a stator windings configured to superconduct when cooled in a stator cryostat to a temperature no greater than a stator superconducting temperature. The rotor cryostat surrounds the rotor and is configured to allow transport of a first coolant through a plurality of conduits adjacent to the rotor windings in order to draw heat from the rotor windings and reduce the temperature of the rotor windings to a temperature no greater than the rotor superconducting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KATO ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Darrell Morrison, Ted Daly
  • Semiconductor package including dielectric layers defining via holes extending to component pads
    Patent number: 10079156
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor package and method of making the same. The semiconductor package includes an encapsulation layer, a component within the encapsulation layer, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a first patterned conductive layer, and a second patterned conductive layer. The component includes pads on a front surface of the component. The first dielectric layer is disposed on a surface of the encapsulation layer. The second dielectric layer is disposed on a surface of the first dielectric layer. The first and second dielectric layers define via holes extending from the second dielectric layer to respective ones of the pads. The first patterned conductive layer is disposed within the first dielectric layer and surrounds the via holes. The second patterned conductive layer is disposed within the second dielectric layer and surrounds the via holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Lee, Yuan-Chang Su, Yu-Lin Shih, You-Lung Yen
  • Petroleum crude oil desalting process and unit
    Patent number: 10077405
    Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michel Daage, Magaly C. Barroeta, Brian D. Albert, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Andrew P. Sullivan, Jose X. Simonetty, Christopher J. Wolfe
  • Method for washing reactor
    Patent number: 10076773
    Abstract: The method for cleaning a reactor of the present invention comprises passing a solvent through a wax-fraction hydrocracking apparatus which is charged with a catalyst and to which supply of a wax fraction is stopped, wherein the solvent comprising at least one oil selected from a group consisting of hydrocarbon and vegetable oils, and having a sulfur content of less than 5 ppm and being in a liquid state at 15° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignees: JAPAN OIL, GAS AND METALS NATIONAL CORPORATION, INPEX CORPORATION, JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION, JAPAN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION CO., LTD., COSMO OIL CO., LTD., NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Takahashi, Kazuhiko Tasaka, Yuichi Tanaka, Marie Iwama
  • Method and system for recycling carbon dioxide from biomass gasification
    Patent number: 10077407
    Abstract: A biomass gasification system. The system includes: a) a gasifier; b) a waste heat exchanger; c) a waste heat boiler; d) a cyclone separator; e) a gas scrubber; f) a shift reactor; g) a desulfurizing tower; h) a first decarburizing tower; i) a synthesizing tower; and j) a second decarburizing tower. In the system, the gasifier, the waste heat exchanger, the cyclone separator, the gas scrubber, the shift reactor, the desulfurizing tower, the first decarburizing tower, the synthesizing tower, and the second decarburizing tower are connected sequentially. In addition, CO2 outlets of the first decarburizing tower and the second decarburizing tower are both connected to a cold medium inlet of the waste heat exchanger; and a cold medium outlet of the waste heat exchanger is connected to a gasifying agent entrance of the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: WUHAN KAIDI ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanfeng Zhang, Liang Zhang, Minggui Xia, Wenyan Liu
  • Low viscosity low volatility lubricating oil base stocks and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 10077409
    Abstract: A lubricating oil base stock including one or more monoesters represented by the formula (I), (II), (III) and (IV) as defined herein. The lubricating oil base stock has a high temperature high shear (HTHS) viscosity of less than about 1.7 cP as determined by ASTM D4683, and a Noack volatility from about 15 to about 90 percent as determined by ASTM D5800. A lubricating oil containing the lubricating oil base stock including one or more monoesters represented by the formula (I), (II), (III) and (IV) as defined herein. A method for improving one or more of thermal and oxidative stability, solubility and dispersancy of polar additives, deposit control and traction control in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing the lubricating oil base stock including one or more monoesters represented by the formula (I), (II), (III) and (IV) as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Halou Oumar-Mahamat, Hong Cheng, David A. Blain, Kathleen K. Cooper, James T. Carey, Michael R. Douglass, Percy R. Kanga, Abhimanyu O. Patil, Satish Bodige, Kyle G. Lewis, Mark P. Hagemeister
  • ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND FUEL CELL VEHICLE WITH RANKINE CYCLE
    Publication number: 20180257479
    Abstract: The electric vehicle including one or more in-wheel motors, a battery electrically coupled to one or more in-wheel motors, a power electronics including a DC-AC inverter, a AC-DC inverter, and a boost converter that receives DC power from the battery and supplies AC power to the one or more in-wheel motors, and a generator electrically coupled to the battery via the power electronics. Further, it includes a Rankine cycle system including a pump, a first valve having an input, a first output, and a second output connected to the pump, the generator, and the one or more in-wheel motors, respectively. A second valve having a first input connects to the generator, a second input connects the one or more in-wheel motors and an output delivers the working fluid to the power electronics. An expander receives the working fluid from at least one of the power electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Feng ZHOU, Ercan Mehmet DEDE
  • SMART NECKLACE FOR SOCIAL AWARENESS
    Publication number: 20180261114
    Abstract: A device for providing feedback includes an imaging device configured to capture an image of a subject, a feedback device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the imaging device and the feedback device. The controller includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to determine one or more identifying characteristics of the subject, set one or more parameters for determining a facial expression of the subject in the image based on the one or more identifying characteristics of the subject, determine the facial expression of the subject in the image based on the one or more parameters, and provide the feedback with the feedback device based on the determined facial expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Suhas E. Chelian
  • DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND DEVICES
    Publication number: 20180258473
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting the presence or absence of a target analyte in a test sample, comprising the steps: i) providing a plurality of detector nanoparticles comprising a first detector nanoparticle functionalised with a first probe specific for a first region of a target analyte and a second detector nanoparticle functionalised with a second probe specific for a second region of said target analyte; and ii) contacting said detector nanoparticles with a test sample under conditions suitable for the binding of the specific probes to the target analyte, wherein target analyte-induced agglomeration of the detector nanoparticles permits the release of a detectable signal means from a signal reservoir. Also provided are related devices and systems for performing the method of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: ADMINISTRACION GENERAL DE LA COMUNIDAD AUTONOMA DE EUSKADI, UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA, BASQUE CENTERCENTER FOR MACROMOLECULAR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING. POLYMAT FUNDAZIOA
    Inventors: Charles Henderson Lawrie, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, Thomas Schäfer, Luis Manuel Liz Marzán, Wolfgang Johann Parak