Patents Assigned to Southwest Research Institute
  • Apparatus and methods for exhaust gas recirculation for an internal combustion engine utilizing at least two hydrocarbon fuels
    Patent number: 10125726
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising: operating the engine with at least one of the cylinders of the engine as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder; mixing exhaust gas expelled from the dedicate EGR cylinder with air in an intake system to provide a mixture of exhaust gas and air; providing a first hydrocarbon fuel and a second hydrocarbon fuel; introducing a charge comprising the first hydrocarbon fuel, the second hydrocarbon fuel and the mixture of exhaust gas and air to the dedicated EGR cylinder; igniting the charge in the dedicated EGR cylinder; expelling exhaust gas from the dedicated EGR cylinder; and recirculating the exhaust gas to the intake system of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Cary A. Henry
  • Monitoring and control of electrochemical cell degradation via strain based battery testing
    Patent number: 10120035
    Abstract: A method and system for the monitoring and control of electrochemical cell degradation by use of strain-based battery testing. Strain-based battery is employed to recognize and implement a battery revival cycle to reduce battery degradation rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Joe Steiber, Jeff Qiang Xu
  • Internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation loop with catalyzed heat exchanger for steam reformation
    Patent number: 10119500
    Abstract: A method of providing recirculated exhaust to an internal combustion engine. The engine has an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation loop) which may be a high pressure loop, a low pressure loop, or a dedicated cylinder loop. A catalyzed heat exchanger on the EGR loop has a steam reformation catalyst and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger uses hot exhaust gas from the main exhaust line to heat the catalyst. A methane fuel source adds methane to the recirculated exhaust stream before it enters the catalyst, and the catalytic reaction increases the amount of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the recirculated exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Cary A. Henry
  • Dosage suspensions of active pharmaceutical ingredients
    Patent number: 10117859
    Abstract: Methods for preparing suspensions of active pharmaceutical ingredients for ensuing drug delivery. The suspension may include a mixture of a relatively low dosage API and a relatively high dosage API or a mixture of an API with a suitable excipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hong Dixon, Larry A. Cabell, Joseph A. McDonough
  • Media access control method with time-coherence and deterministic scheduling for wireless communications network
    Patent number: 10123294
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing the transmission and receipt of messages by radios within a wireless communications network. It is assumed that the radios have chip scale atomic clocks, which are externally synchronized, such as by GPS, but only at the beginning of a mission. Each radio defaults to a sleep mode, in which its receive and transmit circuitry is inactive. Each radio stores a channel plan of pre-determined base transmit times, and calculates a worst case time drift between clocks and a propagation delay value between combinations of radios. At each base transmit time, if a radio has an outgoing message to transmit, it subtracts propagation delay from the base transmit time, and transmits only at that time. Also, for each base transmit time, each radio subtracts time drift, thereby determining a receive time window during which it listens for messages from other radios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Travis R. Thompson, Michael S. Moore, Kase J. Saylor, Patrick R. Heenan
  • Wrapping clip for securing a flexible line to another object
    Patent number: 10111743
    Abstract: A securing device for securing a flexible line to another object. The clip has a working end and a clip end, the former for attachment to the other object and the latter for securing the line. The clip end has two loops and a locking clip. The two loops extend in opposite directions away from the locking clip, and are connected by a crossbar which is perpendicular to and against the locking clip. The locking clip is formed from two parallel shafts, closely spaced together. The line is secured by wrapping it at least twice around the loops, then up over the crossbar and down into the locking clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Andrew R. Moore
  • Thermal energy storage system comprising encapsulated phase change material
    Patent number: 10107564
    Abstract: Methods of encapsulating a phase change material in a capsule including suspending a particle of the phase change material in an air stream, coating an entire surface of the suspended particle with at least one layer of a sacrificial compound, coating an entire surface of the layer of the sacrificial compound with at least one layer of a second material, and encapsulating the phase change material within a shell formed by the second material. The step of encapsulating comprising heating the particle coated with the sacrificial compound and the second material, thermally decomposing the sacrificial compound, and vaporizing the sacrificial, wherein the sacrificial compound has a decomposition temperature less than a phase change temperature of the phase change material and a phase change temperature of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: Terrafore Technologies, LLC, Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Anoop Kumar Mathur, Rajan Babu Kasetty, James D. Oxley
  • Non-contact magnetostrictive sensor for guided wave monitoring of wire ropes or other solid ferrous objects without ferromagnetic coupling
    Patent number: 10073066
    Abstract: A non contact sensor for use in magnetostrictive testing of a solid ferrous structure. In its simplest form, the sensor has a set of permanent magnets arranged in a row with their poles in the same direction, an electrical coil wrapped around the set of magnets, wrapped in direction parallel to the common poles of the magnets, thereby forming a top portion above the set of magnets and a bottom portion below the set of magnets, and a metal shield interposed between the top portion of the coil and the set of magnets. The sensor is operable such that a time varying current in the coil causes guided waves to travel to the structure and to be reflected from anomalies in the structure even when there is no ferromagnetic coupling material between the sensor and the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sergey A Vinogradov, Glenn M Light
  • Internal combustion engine having six cylinders with two of the cylinders being dedicated EGR cylinders controlled with dual EGR valve
    Patent number: 10054083
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine having two dedicated EGR cylinders. A dual valve system is used to control the output of the dedicated EGR cylinders so that the engine may intake EGR exhaust from both, only one, or neither of the dedicated EGR cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Martin Selway, Ian Paul Gilbert, Marc C. Megel
  • Two-directional radial load and misalignment testing device
    Patent number: 10048165
    Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Peter M. Lee, Kevin L. Hoag, Riccardo Meldolesi, Anthony Perkins, John W. Miller
  • Calibrated volume displacement apparatus and method for direct measurement of specific heat of a gas
    Patent number: 10048217
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the direct measurement of specific heat at constant pressure (Cp). A control fluid of a known amount is supplied to a near adiabatic test chamber having a volume. A collapsible bladder within the test chamber is inflated with an incompressible fluid, changing the volume of the test chamber. The change in pressure and temperature of the control fluid relative to the change in volume of the test chamber is measured. The steps are repeated with a sample fluid. The isentropic enthalpy and specific heat at constant pressure of the sample fluid is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Klaus Brun, Sarah B. Simons, Jeffrey A. Bennett
  • In-situ measurement of corrosion in buried pipelines using vertically measured pipe-to-soil potential
    Patent number: 10001436
    Abstract: A method for in-situ measuring the corrosion rate of a corroding site on an underground metal structure buried in soil, the structure being under cathodic protection. The structure-to-soil potential at varying depths above the pipeline is measured to a depth above, but not reaching the structure. These measurements are extrapolated to obtain data representing the structure-to-soil potential at the surface of the structure under the probe. The gradient of the electrical potential at this surface is used to calculate the corrosion rate of the defect. A special probe may be used to obtain the potential measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pavan K. Shukla, Biswajit Dasgupta
  • Intake air boost system for two-cycle engine having turbo-supercharger
    Patent number: 9995206
    Abstract: An air boost system for a two-cycle engine, such as an EMD engine, which operates with a gear-driven turbo-supercharger. The turbo-supercharger is undersized for the engine, such that it is insufficient to provide air flow for a target air-fuel ratio above a pre-determined mid-load threshold. An additional turbocharger is installed in parallel with the turbo-supercharger, such that the intake manifold may receive air intake from only the turbo-supercharger or from both the turbo-supercharger and the turbocharger. In operation, the turbocharger is active only at loads above the predetermined load threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: John C. Hedrick, Steven G. Fritz
  • Carbon nanotubes grown on nanostructured flake substrates and methods for production thereof
    Patent number: 9963781
    Abstract: Carbon nanotubes grown on nanostructured flake substrates are disclosed. The nanostructured flake substrates include a catalyst support layer and at least one catalyst layer. Carbon nanotubes grown on the nanostructured flake substrates can have very high aspect ratios. Further, the carbon nanotubes can be aligned on the nanostructured flake substrates. Through routine optimization, the nanostructured flake substrates may be used to produce single-wall, double-wall, or multi-wall carbon nanotubes of various lengths and diameters. The nanostructured flake substrates produce very high yields of carbon nanotubes per unit weight of substrate. Methods for making the nanostructured flake substrates and for using the nanostructured flake substrates in carbon nanotube synthesis are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Howard K. Schmidt, Robert H. Hauge, Cary L. Pint, Sean T. Pheasant, Kent E. Coulter
  • Two-dimensional igniter for testing in-cylinder gas velocity and/or gas composition
    Patent number: 9964093
    Abstract: An igniter system for measuring gas velocity and/or gas composition within the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The igniter has an insulator body and conductive shell around the top portion of the insulator body, configured so that the igniter can be installed in place of a conventional spark plug. The igniter has two pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes providing a spark gap and operable to generate a spark within the combustion chamber. An activation and measurement unit is operable to generate a sustained arc in each spark gap, and to measure the voltage, current and capacitance in a measurement circuit associated with each spark gap. From various electrical measurements, the velocity and composition of the gas in the combustion chamber can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jess W. Gingrich, Manfred Amann, Barrett W. Mangold
  • Reciprocating integral linear engine compressor
    Patent number: 9957958
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor. A hollow cylinder tube contains a piston assembly having two pistons connected by a piston rod. At each end of the cylinder tube is an outer chamber between an end plate and an outer end of the proximate piston. These two outer chambers and the outer ends of the pistons define a power cylinder at each end of the cylinder tube. In the mid-portion of the cylinder tube, a center divider is situated between the pistons and has an aperture that allows the piston rod to reciprocate through it. The two inner chambers formed thereby and the inner ends of the pistons define two compression cylinders in the mid-portion of the cylinder tube. The two compression chambers share a suction manifold and a discharge manifold, but have independently operating suction and discharge valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Danny M. Deffenbaugh
  • Neutron imager with spaced diamond detector arrays
    Patent number: 9958560
    Abstract: A neutron detector system, with a detector having a pair of spaced diamond detector layers, sandwiched between outer silicon layers. In response to incident neutrons, the detector system measures pulse heights and response times, and from those measurements, calculates the carbon recoil energy and time of flight of scattered neutrons. This data is further used to calculate a “direction cone”, which represents the approximate angle of arrival of the incident neutron. These direction cones can be used to image neutron events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Keiichi Ogasawara
  • Internal combustion engine having dedicated cylinder(s) for generation of both EGR and exhaust aftertreatment reformate for three-way catalyst
    Patent number: 9951702
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine having dedicated EGR and operating at a net stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. In such engines, one or more cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of the exhaust produced by the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be directed back to the intake manifold. Because the engine's exhaust is net stoichiometric, its exhaust aftertreatment system has a three-way catalyst. An EGR loop is configured to recirculate EGR from the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) to the engine's intake manifold. A diversion line, modulated with a valve, connects the EGR loop to the exhaust aftertreatment system, thereby allowing adjustment of the relative amounts of EGR to be recirculated and to be provided to the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Cary A. Henry, Terrence F. Alger, Jess W. Gingrich
  • Hydraulic starter and pre-lubrication system for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9926901
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine oil utilization system, comprising one or more oil pumps to receive and discharge engine oil including an engine oil circulation loop comprising a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path receives at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and utilizes the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine. The second flow path receives at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and accumulates the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Robert W. Burrahm, Glenn R. Wendel
  • Superhydrophobic compositions and coating process for the internal surface of tubular structures
    Patent number: 9926467
    Abstract: A method for depositing a coating includes creating a vacuum within an interior volume of a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure also includes an internal surface. Gas is supplied to the interior volume of the tubular structure, wherein the gas includes a plasma precursor in the gas phase. The tubular structure is biased relative to ground. Plasma having a density is formed and cyclically positioned along the length of the tubular structure. Positive ions of the plasma precursor gas are generated and are deposited on the internal surface forming a coating on the internal surface, wherein the coating exhibits a water contact angle of greater than 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Michael A. Miller, Ronghua Wei, Gregory J. Hatton