Patents Assigned to Wärtsilä Finland Oy
  • Patent number: 7955149
    Abstract: The invention relates to fuel system for gas driven piston engine in a marine vessel, which gas is stored in at least one fuel storage tank in the vessel as liquefied gas. The fuel feeding system comprises a separate fuel feed tank in which the gas is in liquid phase and at elevated pressure. The gas is also in liquid phase in the fuel storage tank, in which, however, prevails only the hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Oskar Levander, Tuomas Sipilä
  • Patent number: 7947401
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a preheating arrangement in a fuel cell apparatus, the fuel cell apparatus comprising at least a fuel cell unit, the fuel cells of which include an anode side and a cathode side and an electrolyte therebetween and in which fuel cell apparatus there is at least a fuel inlet into the anode side and an oxygen-containing gas inlet into the cathode side as well as a de-sulphuring unit and a fuel modifying unit and an afterburner for combusting the exhaust gases of the anode and/or cathode sides. According to the invention, a separate fuel channel has been arranged for the afterburner for introducing fuel to the afterburner at least during the start-up phase of the fuel cell apparatus and that at least a portion of the exhaust gases formed in the combustion of the separately fed fuel is arranged to be directed during the start-up phase of the fuel cell apparatus from the afterburner for heating at least the de-sulphuring unit and/or the fuel modifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Timo Kivisaari, Timo Mahlanen
  • Patent number: 7866161
    Abstract: A gas engine plant that includes a combustion engine adapted to combust gaseous fuel receives fuel containing hydrocarbons, reforms the fuel by cracking the heavier hydrocarbons in the fuel while minimizing cracking of methane, and feeds the reformed fuel in gaseous form to the combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Timo Mahlanen, Sören Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7862393
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a propulsion arrangement for a marine vessel, which propulsion arrangement comprises an internal combustion engine, a shaft arrangement and a steerable thruster unit. The marine vessel further comprises an electric generator or a combined electric generator and motor in connection with the propulsion arrangement. In order to reduce space requirements and required equipment as well as to raise efficiency, the shaft arrangement comprises a main shaft extending from the internal combustion engine to a first angle gear and a drive shaft extending from the first angle gear to a second angle gear in the steerable thruster unit. The electric generator or the combined electric generator and motor is connected to the drive shaft of the shaft arrangement after the main shaft and the first angle gear are connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Oskar Levander, Susanna Hannula
  • Patent number: 7858050
    Abstract: A catalytic converter unit includes walls defining a treatment zone, first and second transfer zones and at least one through-flow zone, which zones are adjacent each other. The walls include a partition wall that divides the treatment zone into first and second segments. The first transfer zone is plugged upstream of the partition wall and the second transfer zone is plugged downstream of the partition wall. A catalytic converter element is disposed in the first segment of the treatment zone, spaced from the partition wall. The first segment of the treatment zone is in flow communication with the first transfer zone and the second segment of the treatment zone is in flow communication with the second transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Ulf Grandlund, Ulf Nordmyr
  • Publication number: 20100239926
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a preheating arrangement in a fuel cell apparatus, the fuel cell apparatus comprising at least a fuel cell unit having an anode side and a cathode side with an electrolyte therebetween, the fuel cell apparatus having at least a fuel inlet to the anode side and an oxygen-containing air inlet to the cathode side as well as a sulphur removal unit and a fuel modifying unit and an afterburner for combustion the exhaust gases from the anode and/or cathode side. According to the invention, the afterburner is provided with a separate fuel inlet channel for introducing fuel to the afterburner during the start-up phase of the fuel cell apparatus and that at least a part of the exhaust gases formed in the combustion of the separately fed fuel is arranged to be directed from the afterburner for heating at least the sulphur removal unit and/or the fuel modifying unit during the start-up phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Timo Kivisaari, Timo Mahlanen
  • Publication number: 20100230506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machinery arrangement of a marine vessel, which machinery arrangement comprises an internal combustion engine (1), a heat recovery device (2) for recovering waste heat from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine (1), a scrubber unit (3) for scrubbing the exhaust gas, and a separate heating system (4) for producing heat. The machinery arrangement further includes a reheating device (30) in flow connection with the heat recovery device (2) for reheating the exhaust gas from the scrubber unit (3) or for dumping excess heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventor: Torbjörn Henriksson
  • Patent number: 7793622
    Abstract: A gas engine has a first fuel feed system, a second fuel feed system and a third fuel feed system. The gas engine is operated by introducing combustion air into a combustion chamber of the engine. In a first mode of operation of the engine, gaseous fuel is added to the combustion air via the first fuel feed system and ignition fuel is injected into the mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air via the second fuel feed system. In a second mode of operation of the engine, gaseous fuel is added to the combustion air via the first fuel feed system and ignition fuel is injected into the mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air via the third fuel feed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventor: Ari Saikkonen
  • Publication number: 20100199904
    Abstract: The invention relates to a barge arrangement comprising a barge unit with a first end (11) and a second end (12) and a tug unit provided with a propulsion unit, which barge unit is adapted to receive the tug unit at one end. In order to achieve an efficient vessel combination for loading, transport and unloading of cargo the barge unit (102) is adapted to receive a first tug unit (2) at its second end (12) in order to be pushed by the first tug unit (2) with the first end (11) of the barge unit (1) in a forward direction (F) of motion. Further, the barge unit (101) is adapted to receive a second tug unit (3) at its second end (12) in order to be pulled by the second tug unit (3) with the second end (12) of the barge unit (1) in the forward direction (F) of motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventor: Oskar Levander
  • Patent number: 7743748
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a solenoid (14), in which solenoid the movement of the plunger is caused by bringing electric energy to the solenoid, whereby an electric current flows through the solenoid, the method comprising the following steps. defining a model (6) for describing the current signal of the solenoid at certain time intervals from the activation moment of the solenoid onwards, measuring the true current signal (7) of the solenoid at time intervals corresponding with the model, defining a residual signal (8), which is the remainder between the signal of the model (6) and the true current signal (7), and performing a threshold analysis (25) for the residual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventor: Fredrik Östman
  • Publication number: 20100148794
    Abstract: An indicator arrangement according to the invention also comprises a resistor (4) the first end of which is connected to between a passive acceleration sensor (1) and a filtering means (2) and the other end is connected to a basic voltage level. An output (5) is also connected to the connection of the first end of the resistor. The indicator arrangement also comprises a direct voltage source (3) the first end of which is connected to a passive acceleration sensor (1) while the other end is connected to a basic voltage level. Voltage can be detected from the output (5) of the indicator arrangement for detecting a fault in the indicator arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Ari Saikkonen, Perri Laakso, Markku Kallio, Antero Salojärvi
  • Patent number: 7730798
    Abstract: A measurement sensor includes an elongated sensor part at the first end of which is the electrical connection of the sensor part and at the second end of which is the sensor end of the sensor part. A first sleeve part is arranged around the sensor part for attaching the measurement sensor to the object to be measured and for supporting the sensor part. A second sleeve part extends into the first sleeve part, the second sleeve part being rotatably arranged in connection with the first sleeve part. The sensor part has an external thread and the second sleeve part has an internal thread, the external thread of the sensor part and the internal thread of the second sleeve part are connected to each other so that when the second sleeve part is rotated in relation to the sensor part, the sensor part moves in the direction of its longitudinal axis in relation to the first and second sleeve parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Jan Lindén, Magnus Pada
  • Patent number: 7712685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel injection in internal combustion engines and to fuel rate shaping. Especially, the invention relates to combustion engines utilizing heavy fuel oil as a fuel. In the body of the device there is arranged a chamber, in which a movable piston is arranged dividing the chamber into a first main volume and a second main volume, the volumes of which depend upon the position of the piston. Moreover, the device comprises at least one auxiliary volume, which can be united with the main volumes. The auxiliary volume can be filled with the fuel entering the device through the first main volume by utilizing the piston motion. By establishing a connection from the auxiliary volume to the second main volume a fuel flow to the second main volume is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventor: Kai Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 7681701
    Abstract: A vibration damper comprising a body part via which the damper can be fastened to the object to be dampened, an oscillating piece movably arranged in the space of the body part and fastened by at least one spring to the body part, the oscillating piece consisting of more than one part, removably fastened to each other. The invention also relates to a method of producing a vibration damper and an arrangement of reducing the vibration in a piston engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventor: Heikki Mikonaho
  • Publication number: 20100050988
    Abstract: A fuel injection arrangement for a piston engine, the arrangement comprising an injector nozzle (1) for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber (6) of the cylinder A Theological actuator (15) is arranged in connection with the injector nozzle (1), the actuator comprising a space (18) containing Theological fluid and an apparatus (19, 20) by means of which the viscosity of the Theological fluid can be changed for controlling the fuel injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Juha Alajoki, Jukka Kiijärvi, Markus Niemi, Jari Kostamo, Jyrki Kajaste, Pekka Hautala
  • Patent number: 7665443
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a fuel injection apparatus of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection apparatus comprising at lest two fuel injector nozzles, the injection action of which is controllable via a solenoid, and at least two control units arranged to control the solenoids controlling the injection action. According to the invention, each injector nozzle is provided with a first and second solenoid and the first and second solenoid are in connection with a different control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Johan Pensar, Jonas Akerman
  • Publication number: 20100012648
    Abstract: Method for treating a crank pin of a crank shaft. In the method hardness of the crank pin surface is measured and when the hardness is over a predetermined limit value, depth of the hard spot is measured. Heat treatment parameters are determined at least on the basis of the depth measurement and the hard spot is heat treated. During the heat treatment the hard spot is heated by an induction heating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Reine Gustafsson, Sture Alm
  • Patent number: 7637793
    Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine, the spark plug having at least two electrodes, in which the electrodes are formed of a first part made of a substrate material and a surface part more durable than the substrate material. The surface part of the spark plug is joined to the first part via an intermediate part making use of explosion welding. The method also relates to a method for producing a spark plug for an internal combustion engine, the spark plug having at least two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Pertti Lintunen, Pekka Lintula, Tomi Lindroos, Aulis Silvonen, Kalevi Taskinen
  • Publication number: 20090293846
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a fuel injection apparatus of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection apparatus comprising at lest two fuel injector nozzles, the injection action of which is controllable via a solenoid, and at least two control units arranged to control the solenoids controlling the injection action. According to the invention, each injector nozzle is provided with a first and second solenoid and the first and second solenoid are in connection with a different control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Johan Pensar, Jonas Åkerman
  • Publication number: 20090253318
    Abstract: A marine vessel operated with gaseous fuel having at least one gas powered engine, which vessel is provided with a fuel tank arrangement in which the fuel is stored in liquid phase, in which vessel the engine is positioned in an engine room which is provided with an engine room casing extending from the engine room to the exterior of the vessel. The fuel tank arrangement is arranged in vicinity of the engine room casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Susanna Hannula, Krister Jansson, Oskar Levander, Tuomas Sipilä, Pasi Martikainen