Patents Assigned to WÄRTSILÄ
  • Patent number: 6912978
    Abstract: A piston engine includes a feed channel for conducting combustion air to the engine, a collecting container for receiving combustion air from the feed channel, and a feed pipe for conducting combustion air from the collecting container to a cylinder of the engine. Moistening fluid is introduced into the combustion air at a location upstream of the feed pipe and a droplet separator removes droplets of moistening fluid from air flowing through the feed pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Technology Oy AB
    Inventors: Tero Raikio, Carl-Erik Rösgren
  • Patent number: 6910469
    Abstract: A supercharged multi-cylinder piston engine includes an elongate air inlet manifold and multiple heat transfer elements located in the interior space of the air inlet manifold. The heat transfer elements extend individually over different respective length segments of the interior space of the manifold and extend collectively over substantially the entire length of the interior space of the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Jari Renkonen
  • Patent number: 6883325
    Abstract: Method of utilizing waste heat in a turbocharger unit of an internal combustion engine unit having means for recovering heat from the combustion process, the engine unit comprising a turbocharger unit adapted to feed pressurized combustion air to the engine and to receive exhaust gases from the engine, wherein the means for recovering heat is producing steam, which is generated using waste heat from the engine and wherein the steam is injected to the turbocharger unit and the energy of steam is at least partially recovered in the turbocharger. The invention relates also to an internal combustion engine arrangement which comprises means for recovering heat from the combustion process and a turbocharger unit adapted to feed pressurized combustion air to the engine and to receive exhaust gases from the engine. The turbocharger unit is provided with a steam injection arrangement connected with the means for recovering heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Technology Oy Ab
    Inventor: Jerzy Chomiak
  • Patent number: 6868330
    Abstract: A method of operating a knock detection system of a multi-cylinder piston engine in which the knock detection system comprises a sensor arranged in connection with each cylinder and a measurement circuit connected to the sensor includes running the engine at a load being less than full load and setting the output signal of each separate sensor between certain preset limits by adjusting one or more adjustment variables of the measurement circuit. The values of the adjustment variables for each separate cylinder are stored in the detection system. During normal use, the engine is run and the previously stored values of the adjustment values for each cylinder are used in the knock detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventor: Ari Saikkonen
  • Patent number: 6851412
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a piston engine, in which the piston engine comprises an engine block with cylinders arranged thereto and at least one fuel injector nozzle arranged for each cylinder and connected to the fuel injection system and in which the fuel injection system comprises at least one fuel pressure accumulator. The fuel injection system comprises a dedicated fuel pressure accumulator for each cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventor: David C. Jay
  • Patent number: 6845752
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel pressure boost pump having a pump body that defines a pump cylinder and a pump chamber. A piston structure is movable in the pump cylinder along a longitudinal axis of the piston structure. A fuel inlet conduit and a fuel outlet conduit are in flow connection with the pump chamber, the fuel inlet conduit being provided with a first one-way valve and the fuel outlet conduit being provided with a second one-way valve. A temperature sensor is in thermally conductive contact with the pump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventors: David C. Jay, Tommy Dahlberg
  • Patent number: 6837702
    Abstract: A method of using internal combustion engine exhaust in a combined cycle power plant is disclosed, wherein the quality and distribution of exhaust to the boiler space of a steam generated electric power plant is controlled to achieve greater system efficiencies, and wherein exhaust pollutants are reduced. Outside air is blended only with that portion of the exhaust that passes through the burner ports as secondary or higher level combustion gas. The remainder of the exhaust is provided to the boiler space by a route other than through the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Wartsila Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick McIvor Shelor, Matthew David Fisher, Joseph Robert Ferrari, Johan Erik Boij
  • Patent number: 6626237
    Abstract: Apparatus for recovering heat from a gas flow defines a heat transfer space through which the gas flow can be directed, the heat transfer space having a first region and a second region, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A first valve arrangement alters the direction of gas flow through the heat transfer space, the first valve arrangement having a first condition in which the first region is upstream of the second region and a second condition in which the second region is upstream of the first region. First and second heat exchangers are disposed in the first and second regions respectively of the heat transfer space. A second valve arrangement connects each heat exchanger selectively either to a first heat transfer medium flow circuit or to a second heat transfer medium flow circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Wartsila Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Ted Bergman
  • Patent number: 6622486
    Abstract: An arrangement for feeding air in a supercharged piston engine includes at least a supercharging device arranged for feeding air to more than one cylinder, an air chamber in connection with the supercharging device, and a channel arrangement leading from the air chamber to each cylinder of the piston engine. A resonator system is in connection with the air chamber for attenuating the pressure pulsation in the air chamber. In a method of operating the supercharged piston engine, combustion air is fed by means of the supercharging device at a pressure higher than ambient pressure into the air chamber, air is led from the air chamber to the cylinders through the channel arrangements, and a pressure pulsation is formed in the air chamber, which pulsation is half-wavelength shifted from the pulsation in the air chamber, appearing at frequencies at or below the third harmonic of the rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Wartsila Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Arto Järvi
  • Patent number: 6577932
    Abstract: System (10) for controlling a vessel, which vessel is provided with: propulsion means (40) for propelling the vessel, directional means for determining the direction in which the vessel is propelled, which system is provided with: speed regulating means (32, 36) for influencing the propulsion supplied by the propulsion means, steering means (30, 34) for influencing the directional means, at least one or more navigational aids (28) which provide those who are operating the speed regulating means and/or the steering means with data relating to the navigation, in which the system is provided with means by which the data (14, 16, 22, 24) coming from the navigational aid (28) is used to determine areas where the vessel must not go, and in which the speed regulating means or the steering means or both are provided with limiters (32, 36) by means of which the operation of the abovementioned means is rendered difficult if such operation would lead to the vessel moving in the direction of the abovementioned areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Propulsion Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Eric Henricus Johannes Van Beurden, Albert Frederik Wesselink
  • Patent number: 6463890
    Abstract: A Diesel engine in which a boiler is installed to extract heat from cylinder and air cooling systems as well as exhaust gases to generate steam at a rate proportional to the fuel flow and in which means are provided for introduction of the steam into the cylinder close to top dead center separately from the fuel, before during and after combustion, so that the steam injection does not disturb the ignition but actively modifies the combustion and afterburning process. The ratio of the steam to the fuel mass is preferably 1:1 to 3:1 and the steam temperature and pressure is as high as allowed by the properties of the materials used in the steam generating equipment. The steam system is adaptable to large Diesel engines and results in strongly reduced fuel consumption and very low pollutant emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD Oy AB
    Inventor: Jerzy Chomiak
  • Patent number: 6439193
    Abstract: An injection valve arrangement which is to be connected with a common rail of a fuel feeding system of a combustion engine comprises a valve body. A first valve needle and a first piston arrangement functionally coupled thereto and a second valve needle and a second piston arrangement functionally coupled thereto are inside the valve body. The needle valves are arranged operationally in series so that the first needle valve is connected to feed pressure of the common rail and is arranged to open always first. The second needle valve controls the injection of the fuel into a cylinder of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Nsd Oy AB
    Inventor: Kai Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 6415745
    Abstract: A method of reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of a four-stroke turbo-charged piston engine by injecting water or steam into the combustion chamber of the engine, wherein the water injection is carried out at least substantially during the intake stroke of the engine. The injecting of water is initiated at the earliest when the inlet valve has moved through about 50% of the total range of its opening movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Wartsila Nsd Oy AB
    Inventors: Göran Hellén, Seppo Tiensuu, Juha Kytölä, Tapani Humalamaa
  • Patent number: 6367463
    Abstract: An antipolishing ring arrangement utilized in a cylinder of a large combustion engine, which arrangement is supported on a cylinder sleeve, comprises at least two separate ring elements which are disposed one after the other in the axial direction of the cylinder sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD OY AB
    Inventor: Hannu Nurmi
  • Patent number: 6250080
    Abstract: A mobile cogeneration system fitted into modular intermodal transportation units for ease of transportation, relocation, configuration and reconfiguration, as well as providing an operating environment for the cogeneration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD North America, Inc.
    Inventors: F. Mack Shelor, Jeffrey Cerquetti, Dennis Finn, Zhen Han
  • Patent number: 6240901
    Abstract: A fuel feeding system for a multi-cylinder engine, especially a large diesel engine, includes at least two high pressure pumps for feeding fuel from a fuel tank into respective pressure accumulator units, each of which defines a pressure chamber which is connected to at least two injectors. A passage interconnects the pressure chambers of the pressure accumulator units without obstruction. An auxiliary valve is attached to one of the pressure accumulator units for selectively connecting the pressure chamber of that pressure accumulator unit to the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD Oy AB
    Inventor: David C. Jay
  • Patent number: 6217299
    Abstract: An integrated pump and tappet unit for an internal combustion engine, includes a pump and tappet unit body composed of a one-piece casting, a tappet fitted in the body to be driven by the engine, a tappet arm connected to the tappet, and a piston operationally connected to the tappet through the tappet arm and arranged to pump fuel from a fuel chamber in the pump and tappet body under high pressure to be fed to one or more cylinders of the engine. A flange is fixed to the pump and tappet body and the tappet arm extends through the flange, so that the piston and the tappet are at opposite respective sides of the flange, and the flange is in sealing relationship with the tappet arm so that passage of fuel from the piston side of the flange to the tappet side of the flange is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD Oy AB
    Inventor: David C. Jay
  • Patent number: 6209523
    Abstract: A control and safety valve arrangement in a fuel feeding system of an internal combustion engine, especially a large diesel engine, in which fuel is pumped from a fuel tank at least to one common pressure accumulator unit (1) and is fed therefrom under high pressure to be injected at least into two cylinders of the engine. The pressure accumulator unit (1,1a) is connect to the fuel tank with a separate return flow line (5,6,7), which is provided with valve means provided with two separate control arrangements operationally independent on each other so that the pressure accumulator unit (1) can be connected to the fuel tank by means of a first control arrangement under the influence of a separate control pressure when necessary and in addition by means of a second control arrangement in case the pressure in the pressure accumulator unit (1) exceeds a certain selected limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD OY AB
    Inventor: Kai Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 6189509
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for injecting fuel into a diesel engine using a pulsating flow pump for improving the fuel performance of the engines by controlling the beginning and the end of the injection. It comprises a device (20) controlling the closing and opening of the nozzle needle (5) provided with a discharge circuit (21, 21′) controlled by an electrovalve (25) in branched connection between the high pressure supply conduit (7) and the low pressure return conduit (8). The discharge circuit (21, 21′) comprises a discharge valve (22) whereof the opening and the closing are slowed down by a calibrated orifice (23). The discharge valve (22) located upstream of a discharge orifice (27) provided on the return conduit (8) enables to deviate part of the non-injected fuel flow towards the nozzle needle (5) to exert thereon a closing pressure. Consequently, this results in a better control over the opening and closing of the nozzle needle (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins Wartsila S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Froment
  • Patent number: 6145497
    Abstract: A method for recuperating thermal energy in the oxidant air generated by an oxidant air compressor of an internal combustion engine is provided, which consists in taking thermal energy using a heat exchanger in which circulates a heat transferring fluid and which is located in the oxidant air circuit between the compressor and the engine, and transferring the thermal energy recuperated by the fluid to a thermal energy consuming group. The invention is characterized in that it further consists in: detecting the temperature of the surcharging air upstream of the heat exchanger; and when the detected temperature is lower than a first reference temperature, in short circuiting the heat exchanger and heating the heat transferring fluid up to approximately the reference temperature using an auxiliary heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Kervagoret, Gilles Langlois