Patents Examined by Charles J Brauch
  • Patent number: 11709042
    Abstract: A mitigation control system is arranged in an environment containing an energetic material and includes an abnormal temperature sensor for detecting an abnormal temperature of the environment, a power source that is mechanically actuated by the abnormal temperature sensor when the abnormal temperature exceeds a predetermined abnormal temperature threshold, a mitigation controller that is actuated by the power source, and a plurality of local temperature sensors that are communicatively coupled to the mitigation controller and are arranged for detecting critical temperatures in specific regions of the environment. The mitigation controller executes a mitigation action when one of the critical temperatures exceeds a predetermined critical temperature threshold for the corresponding specific region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Dennis D. Barents, Kim L. Christianson, Aaron C. Lattimore, Andrew K. Knight
  • Patent number: 11708788
    Abstract: An outboard engine assembly has an engine unit including an engine unit housing, an internal combustion engine disposed in the engine unit housing, the engine defining at least one combustion chamber, an exhaust system fluidly communicating with the at least one combustion chamber for supplying exhaust gases from the at least one combustion chamber to an exterior of the outboard engine assembly, a gearcase connected to the engine unit housing, a control module connected to the engine for controlling at least one operating parameter of the outboard engine assembly, and a water sensor disposed at least in part in the exhaust system for detecting presence of water in the exhaust system, the water sensor being in communication with the control module, and a propulsion device operatively connected to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventors: Nathan Blank, Roger Raetzman
  • Patent number: 11703020
    Abstract: A priming pump may include a housing; an inlet passageway inside of the housing; an outlet passageway inside of the housing; a divider, inside of the housing, separating the inlet passageway and the outlet passageway; a connecting passageway through the divider in fluid communication with the inlet passageway and the outlet passageway; a valve, disposed in the connecting passageway, configured for one-way fluid flow from the inlet passageway to the outlet passageway; a rotary pump, inside of the housing, having an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet passageway and an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet passageway; and a shaft connected to the rotary pump and extending through the housing, the shaft configured for rotation by an external driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Fischer, Neil Edward Johnston, Brenton William Bush, Ye Tian, Quinton Burcar
  • Patent number: 11702999
    Abstract: A system may include a first methanol tank and a second methanol tank connected to the first tank. The system may include a first valve fluidly connected to the first methanol tank and the second methanol tank. The system may include a heat exchanger connected to the second methanol tank and a turbine of a turbocharger. The system may include a second valve fluidly connected to an intake system of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kenth I. Svensson
  • Patent number: 11698024
    Abstract: An inlet guide vane assembly for an aircraft engine includes an array of inlet guide vanes having radially inner ends at a radially inner shroud, radially outer ends at a radially outer shroud, and airfoils extending therebetween. An internal passage extends radially through the airfoil from a vane air inlet at the radially inner end to a vane air outlet at the radially outer end. The vane air inlet is in fluid communication with an inner plenum, disposed radially inwardly of the inlet guide vane and in fluid communication with an anti-icing air source. The vane air outlet in fluid communication with an outer plenum, disposed radially outwardly of the inlet guide vane and having an exhaust port. A vane anti-icing pathway is defined in a radially-outward direction from the inner plenum, through the internal passage of the vane, and into the outer plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: David Menheere
  • Patent number: 11697341
    Abstract: A combined cooling and water braking system for a vehicle comprises a first water recirculation loop having a first heat exchanger configured to cool water flowing in the first water recirculation loop, the first water recirculation loop comprising a water conduit for transporting heat away from a propulsion device configured to generate a propulsion power for the vehicle. A second water recirculation loop having a second heat exchanger is configured to cool water flowing in the second water recirculation loop. A retarder is configured to be coupled to a pair of wheels of the vehicle. The second water recirculation loop may be selectively used for cooling the propulsion device and for providing water to the retarder for water braking. There is also provided a method for cooling a propulsion device of a vehicle and water braking a pair of wheels of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Arne Andersson, Staffan Lundgren
  • Patent number: 11693473
    Abstract: A reconfigurable controller system for one or more switchable electronic devices has a relay junction with a plurality of relay connections, each of which includes at least a load circuit input, a load circuit output connectible to a respective one of the one or more switchable electronic devices, and a control circuit line. A controller head unit connectible to the relay junction includes a plurality of switch buttons, each with an independent indicator screen programmable with one or more display outputs, and associated output functions to a specific one the control circuit lines generated when the switch is actuated. A scroll dial is receptive to a rotary input that responsively switches, for one or more of the plurality of switch buttons, given ones of the display outputs and associated output functions to another one of the display outputs and associated output functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KC IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Bobby Leang, Nicholas William Mazzanti
  • Patent number: 11692462
    Abstract: A blade for an engine includes an airfoil body having a pressure side and a suction side, a base, and a rib located on the pressure side of the airfoil body. The rib includes a radially outer surface inclined radially outwardly with respect to the pressure side of the airfoil body and a scoop formed by the radially outer surface. The radially outer surface is inclined radially outward with respect to a normal axis to the pressure side of the airfoil body. The rib is angled at a positive angle with respect to the platform. An engine for and a method of directing ingestion material in an engine may employ the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Kray, Weizeng Kong, Anthony J. Maurer
  • Patent number: 11692669
    Abstract: An oil tank assembly for a gas turbine engine may include an oil tank having an upper compartment and a lower compartment. A baffle may separate the upper compartment of the oil tank from the lower compartment of the oil tank. A de-aerator may be included, where the de-aerator includes an oil inlet, a de-aerator outlet, and an air vent. The de-aerator may be configured to separate air from oil in an air-oil mixture such that the oil flows through the de-aerator outlet and such that the air flow through the vent. Further, the de-aerator may include a fill port for receiving oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Schetzel
  • Patent number: 11690183
    Abstract: A supporting assembly configured to fix chassis of electronic device to fixing bracket. Supporting assembly includes plate body, cushion, fastener and spacer. Plate body includes mounting hole and wall surface forming mounting hole, and plate body is configured to be fixed to chassis of electronic device. Cushion is disposed through mounting hole and includes opening. Fastener is disposed through opening of cushion. A side of fastener is configured to be fixed to fixing bracket, and cushion is clamped between another side of fastener and fixing bracket so as to be compressed. Spacer is disposed in mounting hole and located between wall surface of plate body and cushion. Hardness of spacer is greater than hardness of cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: INVENTED (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chi-Cheng Hsiao, Ying-Chao Peng, Chun-Ying Yang
  • Patent number: 11679815
    Abstract: A liquid discharge structure includes a bottom wall to be disposed tilted relative to a horizontal plane at a casing which is configured to be installed in a vehicle, a lateral wall arranged vertically at a lower end edge of the bottom wall, wherein the lower end edge is configured to be located on a lower side of the bottom wall being tilted, wherein the lateral wall has a discharge opening for liquid located at an end of the lateral wall closer to the bottom wall, a tubular rib wall projecting at least inwardly within the casing from the lateral wall so as to surround the discharge opening, and a partitioning rib wall which is arranged vertically on an inner surface of the bottom wall at a position closer to the lateral wall so that the partitioning rib wall extends intersecting a center axis of the tubular rib wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoyama, Yusuke Nagai, Makoto Goto
  • Patent number: 11680576
    Abstract: A ceiling fan is provided. The ceiling fan includes one or more fan blades. The ceiling fan further includes a motor. The motor is operatively coupled to the one or more fan blades. The motor is configured to drive rotation of the one or more fan blades. The ceiling fan further includes a light kit. The light kit includes a panel. The panel has an edge extending between a top surface of the panel and a bottom surface of the panel. The light kit further includes at least one light source positioned to illuminate the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter Steven Register, Palmer Joseph Primm, Dhavalkumar Prabhudas Patel
  • Patent number: 11680548
    Abstract: A fuel module for pumping and filtration of a fuel in a fuel system includes a flow housing, and each of an electrically powered pump, a first cartridge filter, and a second cartridge filter in sealed, direct engagement with the flow housing. The fuel module is applied in a low pressure fuel circuit feeding fuel to a high pressure fuel circuit for pressurization to an injection pressure. Electronic closed loop control techniques for the pump are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Tian, Quinton Marcus Burear, Michael Taylor McKinley, Stephan Donald Roozenboom
  • Patent number: 11680519
    Abstract: An air intake apparatus for a combustion engine includes an air intake tube for receiving an unmodified ambient air stream from outside the engine. The apparatus includes a first stream modifier chamber for receiving the unmodified ambient air stream that includes a plurality of spark plugs operative to generate nitric oxide when electrically energized such that the unmodified ambient air stream is modified into a first modified air stream rich in nitric oxide. The apparatus includes a second stream modifier chamber positioned downstream from the first and including a GMX400 magnet in magnetic communication with the air intake tube that causes additional oxygen atoms from the first modified air stream to combine with the first modified air stream. The enhanced air stream travels downstream and is combined with fuel and combusted, an exhaust stream thereof having at least 20% less carbon dioxide than a traditional exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Martens
  • Patent number: 11680493
    Abstract: A compression fitting is provided. The compression fitting may include a body, a follower, and a pin, and a cap nut. The follower may be disposed within an axial cavity of the body. The pin may be coupled with the follower. The cap nut may be coupled with the body. An internal edge of the cap nut radially overlaps at least a portion of a forward edge of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander S. Langer, Marcus Damien Baltrucki, Corey A. Benoit
  • Patent number: 11674408
    Abstract: A bleed valve has a valve body enclosing a valve chamber defining a passageway between an inlet port and an outlet port. A panel is mounted into the valve body. The panel is deflectable under fluid pressure between a sealing position blocking the passageway when the bleed valve is in a close state, and a bleeding position allowing fluid flow communication between the inlet port and the outlet port when the bleed valve is an open state. A pressure control device is provided to vary a fluid pressure differential between opposite sides of the panel within the valve chamber and selectively open or close the bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: David Menheere
  • Patent number: 11667229
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration system (200) comprising: a vehicle (102) having a refrigerated cargo space (119); a refrigeration unit (22) in operative association with the refrigerated cargo space, the refrigeration unit providing conditioned air to the refrigerated cargo space; a first engine (26) configured to power the refrigeration unit; a plurality of first fuel tanks (330) fluidly connected to the first engine, the plurality of first fuel tanks configured to supply fuel to the first engine, wherein each of the plurality of first fuel tanks includes a lock off valve (450) and a pressure sensor (470) configured to detect a pressure level within each of the first fuel tanks; and one or more engine controllers (54) in electronic communication with each pressure sensor and lock off valve, the one or more engine controllers being configured to adjust at least one of the lock off valves in response to a pressure level detected by at least one of the pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Loic Renault
  • Patent number: 11668327
    Abstract: A ceiling fan assembly having a motor assembly with a rotating blade hub, and at least one fan blade mounted to the rotating blade hub with a blade span defined between a tip and a root, and defining an airfoil cross section including a rounded leading edge and a v-shaped trailing edge defining a chord therebetween. The blade comprising a pressure side surface and a suction side surface extending between the leading and trailing edges and including a hollow interior and including a tip opening at the tip and a root opening at the root for accessing the hollow interior. The at least one fan blade includes a thickness to chord ratio of less than about 15%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Michael Selig
  • Patent number: 11661647
    Abstract: Artificial lift pump components such as couplings are disclosed, all having a body formed from a selected material, the body having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a first surface treatment introducing carbon, nitrogen, boron into the material to form a first and hard layer, and a second layer defined as an deposited coating to the first layer that is also made of a carbon, nitrogen, or boron and is further characterized as being ceramic like (hard) and having a low-friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bing Han, Manuel Marya, Yuteng Liang
  • Patent number: 11655780
    Abstract: The invention includes methods and devices for preventing excessive NOx formation during the combustion event of a compression-ignition engine with any combustible fuel (diesel, Jet-A, JP8, bio fuel, etc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Keith E. Cavallini