Patents Assigned to Engineering
  • Publication number: 20170055378
    Abstract: A modular jet impingement assembly includes an inlet tube fluidly coupled to a fluid inlet, an outlet tube fluidly coupled to a fluid outlet, and a modular manifold having a first distribution recess extending into a first side of the modular manifold, a second distribution recess extending into a second side of the modular manifold, a plurality of inlet connection tubes positioned at an inlet end of the modular manifold, and a plurality of outlet connection tubes positioned at an outlet end of the modular manifold. A first manifold insert is removably positioned within the first distribution recess, a second manifold insert is removably positioned within the second distribution recess, and a first and second heat transfer plate each removably coupled to the modular manifold. The first and second heat transfer plates each comprise an impingement surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Zhou, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Publication number: 20170051708
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions suitable for use in the exhaust gas recycle stream of an internal combustion engine are provided. Such catalyst compositions typically provide significant amounts of methane in addition to syngas. A reformer incorporating such a catalyst for use in an exhaust gas recycle portion of an internal combustion engine powertrain is described. A powertrain incorporating such a reformer, a method of increasing the octane rating of an exhaust gas recycle stream, and a method of operating an internal combustion engine using methane-assisted combustion are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Toyota Central Research And Development Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. WEISS, Waltr WEISSMAN, Tilman W. BEUTEL, John F. BRODY, Eugine CHOI, Wenjun LI, Paul D. MADIARA, Christine E. KLIEWER, Karl G. STROHMAIER, Scott J. WEIGEL, Brett LOVELESS, Makota KIOKE, Hiroshi MIAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20170050385
    Abstract: An inkjet forming method is provided that manufactures a three-dimensional object by vertically stacking multiple horizontally extending layers. The contour of a region in one layer, constituting a target object, in the horizontal direction is contiguous with a region in the layer constituting a removable portion and is vertically contiguous with a region constituting the target object in another layer immediately above and vertically contiguous with the one layer. At least a part of the region constituting the removable portion forms a contour of the layer in the horizontal direction. When a target layer is formed by the inkjet forming method, entirety of the target layer and an entire contour of the target layer in the horizontal direction are vertically contiguous with an inner part of another layer immediately below the target layer than a contour of the layer immediately below the target layer in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunio Hakkaku, Hiroyoshi Ohi, Masaya Nagahari
  • Publication number: 20170052011
    Abstract: Components for a perforation gun system are provided including combinations of components including a self-centralizing charge holder system and a bottom connector that can double as a spacer. Any number of spacers can be used with any number of holders for any desired specific metric or imperial shot density, phase and length gun system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicants: DynaEnergetics GmbH & CO. KG, JDP Engineering & Machine Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Parks, Frank Haron Preiss, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf
  • Patent number: 9573224
    Abstract: A power schedule calculation method utilizes an idealized geometry to predict laser power levels on an additive path during laser deposition. The method calculates beam power for any point along the path traveled to form a build having a geometry. Each point along the path has associated with it an idealized geometry comprising a melt pool, hot zone and bulk portion. The method comprises creating a geometric description representing the geometry of the build during the process, creating a path description representing the path of the beam source through space during the process, calculating the idealized geometry for the point on the path based upon the geometric description and path description, calculating an energy balance at the melt pool for the point on the path, calculating total energy needed at the point on the path and calculating optimum beam source power. In the calculations, build temperature is based upon a calculation of hot zone temperature derived from the idealized geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Product Innovation & Engineering, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Eugene Sparks
  • Patent number: 9576460
    Abstract: A wearable smart device for providing hazard warning information to a user. The wearable smart device includes a microphone configured to detect audio data associated with a potential hazard. The wearable smart device also includes a camera configured to detect image data associated with the potential hazard. The wearable smart device also includes a processor coupled to the microphone and the camera and configured to determine whether the potential hazard presents a real hazard based on the detected audio data and the detected image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Rajiv Dayal
  • Patent number: 9574138
    Abstract: Provided are processes for making saturated hydrocarbons from renewable feed sources. In an embodiment, a process for producing a lube basestock and/or a diesel fuel from a feedstock of biological origin includes: contacting the feedstock in a single reactor in the presence of hydrogen with catalyst components including a first catalyst and a second catalyst, wherein the first catalyst comprises an acidic material, a basic material, or a combination of both, and wherein the second catalyst is a hydrogenation catalyst including a hydrothermally stable binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Virginia M. Roberts, Paul D. Oldenburg, Suzzy Chen Hsi Ho, Michel Daage, Frank Cheng-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 9573543
    Abstract: A vehicle including a bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam that extends generally in a vehicle lateral direction. The bumper reinforcement beam has a front face, a rear face opposite the front face and a top extending between the front face and the rear face. A bumper cover is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. A bumper cover reinforcement includes an anchor portion supported on the bumper reinforcement beam and a bumper cover support portion extending outwardly from the anchor portion toward the bumper cover. The bumper cover support portion is arranged and configured to resist a downward force applied to the bumper cover in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Thomas Hammer, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9573592
    Abstract: Arrangements related to mitigating risk for an autonomous vehicle with respect to oncoming objects are described. An oncoming object in an external environment of the autonomous vehicle can be detected. It can be determined whether the oncoming object exhibits a hazardous behavior. Responsive to determining that the oncoming object exhibits a hazardous behavior, an altered travel route for the autonomous vehicle while maintaining safe operation of the autonomous vehicle can be determined. At least a portion of the altered travel route can safely violate a traffic rule. The autonomous vehicle can be caused to implement the altered travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Danil V. Prokhorov, Vladimeros Vladimerou
  • Patent number: 9574810
    Abstract: Measured EER and COP are affected by the load under which an air conditioning, refrigeration or heating system is running; the load is a function of the evaporating and condensing temperatures. The invention makes adjustments for the purpose of maximizing measured EER and COP in a feedback loop utilized to optimize cooling or heating capacity relative to power consumed. The maximum EER is continuously achieved by incrementally adjusting each operating parameter to realize an incremental increase in EER, even as conditions such as ambient temperature are changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Advantek Consulting Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kenneth West
  • Patent number: 9573116
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesizing ZSM-58 crystals with an improved morphology and/or an improved size distribution. By controlling the conditions during synthesis of the ZSM-58 crystals, crystals of a useful size with a narrow size distribution can be generated. Steaming the H-form DDR framework type crystals at a temperature from 426±° C. to 1100±° C. for a time period from about 30 minutes to about 48 hours can attain one or more of the following properties: a CH4 diffusivity of no more than 95% of the CH4 diffusivity of the unsteamed H-form DDR framework type crystals; an N2 BET surface area from 85% to 110% of the surface area of unsteamed H-form DDR framework type crystals; and an equilibrium CO2 sorption capacity from 80% to 105% of the equilibrium CO2 sorption capacity of unsteamed H-form DDR framework type crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ivy D. Johnson, Tilman W. Beutel, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Harry W. Deckman, Jack W. Johnson, Jean W. Beeckman, Natalie A. Fassbender, Nadya A Hrycenko, Randolph J. Smiley
  • Patent number: 9573600
    Abstract: A driver-specific vehicle control method is provided that can adjust one or more vehicle control systems in response to a difference in current driver driving characteristics with respect to safe driver driving characteristics on the same roadway type and vehicle operating conditions. The method maintains a driver score for each driver of a vehicle, in the form of a set of the driver's driving characteristics scores for each different roadway type. The method, via a control apparatus, determines a current position of the vehicle on a roadway and the roadway features to select the appropriate driver score for comparison. When the driver's score exceeds a threshold difference from a safe driver score on the same roadway type, the method can adjust a control system parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Pujitha Gunaratne
  • Patent number: 9573391
    Abstract: A printing system includes a media transport system configured to transport a web of print media through a printing zone at a transport speed in a transport direction proceeding from up-web to down-web. A plurality of printheads each at least spanning the print zone and each configured to eject a radiation-curable ink. At least one PIN is unit positioned between two of the printheads relative the transport direction and configured to emit radiation onto the print media to partially cure the ink emitted by a printhead that is up-web from the PIN unit. A controller controls a power level of the PIN unit so that the radiative power level of the PIN unit decreases as the transport speed increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: APS Engineering
    Inventors: Zeying Ma, Jaren Dayle Marler
  • Patent number: 9574441
    Abstract: A method for modulating a downhole telemetry signal uses a fluid pressure pulse generator that generates pressure pulses of multiple pulse heights in a drilling fluid. The method comprises: converting measurement data into a bitstream comprising symbols of a selected symbol set; encoding the bitstream into a pressure pulse telemetry signal using a modulation technique that includes amplitude shift keying, wherein each symbol of the selected symbol set is assigned a pressure pulse having a unique amplitude; and generating pressure pulses in the drilling fluid corresponding to the telemetry signal. Alternatively, the method can comprise a modulation technique that includes amplitude shift keying and phase shift keying and wherein each symbol of the selected symbol set is assigned a pressure pulse having a unique combination of amplitude and phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, David A. Switzer, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9574495
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio device for an internal combustion engine includes: a connecting rod, having a small end and a large end, wherein a support hole formed at the small end is pivotally supported by a support shaft of a piston that reciprocates in a cylinder, and a support hole formed at the large end is pivotally supported by a support shaft of a crankshaft; an eccentric sleeve that is rotatably installed between the support hole of the small end or the support hole of the large end and the support shaft, and displaces a center axis of the support hole of the small end or a center axis of the support hole of the large end with respect to a center axis the support shaft; and an actuator that drives and rotates the eccentric sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Matsuda, Hirofumi Higashi, Akira Mikita
  • Patent number: 9578153
    Abstract: A mobile device connection system may identify a mobile device of a present driver and prioritize a wireless connection between the identified mobile device and a built-in hands-free device located in a motor vehicle. The mobile device connection system may include a sensor and a controller. The sensor may be configured to sense an identity of a driver when the driver is within a proximity of the motor vehicle and generate a signal based on the sensed identity. The controller may be coupled to the sensor, and it may be configured to identify the mobile device based on the signal from the sensor, search and detect the identified mobile device, and establish a wireless connection between the detected mobile device and the built-in hands-free device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Edward Pierfelice, Eric Randell Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9573522
    Abstract: Arrangements related to the operation of an autonomous vehicle are described. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle seat. It can be determined whether a future planned driving maneuver of the autonomous vehicle includes a change in a current motion of the autonomous vehicle. Responsive to determining that the future planned driving maneuver includes a change in the current motion of the autonomous vehicle, the vehicle seat can be caused to provide a haptic indication of the future planned driving maneuver prior to implementing the future planned driving maneuver. In this way, a vehicle seat occupant can be alerted to the future planned driving maneuver. The haptic indication can include a movement of the vehicle seat. In one or more arrangements, the movement of the vehicle seat can correspond to a sensation that a vehicle seat occupant will experience during at least a portion of the future planned driving maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. James
  • Patent number: 9572334
    Abstract: Provided is a fishing reel equipped with a hidden line stopper. The fishing reel includes: a frame; a shaft mounted on the frame; a spool fitted on the shaft to keep a fishing line wound thereon; a first side cover disposed at a side of the frame and capable of opening to separate the spool; a second side cover coupled to the frame at the opposite side to the first side cover; a locker having a locking rod for locking and unlocking by moving forward and backward through the frame and the first side cover, and a grip disposed at the first or second side cover and connected to the locking rod; and a line stopper formed at the locking rod to be hidden or exposed when the locking rod is moved forward and backward to open and close the first side cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DOYO ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Kang Ho Hyun
  • Patent number: 9574468
    Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a variable engine valve operating control mechanisms which move the engine valves to a safe lift/timing position with respect to a piston to minimize the potential for valve to piston contact during valve surge. At least one engine operating conditions is selected and provided with a threshold triggering a control to move the valves to a safe position in a calibrated, predictive manner in advance of any potential valve to piston contact. The control method and apparatus can be integrated into the existing engine control and variable valve operating control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dante T. Boutell
  • Patent number: 9573114
    Abstract: An oxygen storage material including a compound of the formula: Ca2MnAlO5+? wherein 0???0.5 wherein the compound includes at least one dopant said dopant selected from alkaline earth ions at the Ca site, trivalent ions at the Al site, and 3d transition metal ions at the Mn site wherein the an oxygen release temperature or an oxygen storage temperature is modified in comparison to an un-doped Ca2MnAlO5+? material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Ling, Ruigang Zhang