Patents Examined by James J Kim
  • Patent number: 11912357
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for influential control over a driver's operation of a vehicle's steering wheel. Upon issuing an autonomous control signal to control motive operation of the vehicle, an autonomous control system of the vehicle may reinforce or influence the application of the autonomous control signal by inducing or cuing to induce the driver's hand(s) to turn the vehicle's steering wheel in a particular direction or by a particular amount/with a particular level of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Nicholas Charles Fishwick
  • Patent number: 11912291
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an autonomous vehicle and a system for the autonomous vehicle. The system may include: a power supply including a first power output and a second power output; a master computing unit arranged to be powered by the first power output, configured to control operations of the autonomous vehicle in response to detecting the second power output, and configured to provide a third power output by adjusting the first power output; and a slave computing unit arranged to be powered by the second power output, and configured to control the operations of the autonomous vehicle in response to detecting a failure of the master computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lijun Ju, Chengfa Wang, Junping Wang, Fan Yang
  • Patent number: 11913370
    Abstract: A valve assembly failsafe configured to be coupled to an actuator of a coolant control regulator assembly is provided. The valve assembly failsafe includes a wind arm, a spring that engages the wind arm under spring tension, a latch that engages the wind arm, a drive gear that engages the wind arm and the actuator, and a driver that engages the latch. The valve assembly failsafe is configured to be positioned in a set state where the latch engages and retains the wind arm under spring tension and the drive gear freely rotates during rotation of the actuator, and a tripped state where the driver rotates the latch to disengage the latch from the wind arm, causing the wind arm to rotate under the spring tension to engage the drive gear and cause the drive gear to drive the actuator to a default position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Osmun, Joseph Davis
  • Patent number: 11905927
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for monitoring a wind turbine (10). The system receives a signal (426) indicative of a pitch force being applied to a blade (20) of a wind turbine (10). The signal (426) is sampled to generate a discrete time-domain signal (426) including a plurality of pitch force samples. Samples are selected for analysis using a sampling window (326) that excludes samples obtained under operating conditions determined to be detrimental to obtaining good data. The selected samples are processed to generate a spectral density (150) of the signal (426), and the frequency content of the spectral density (150) analysed to determine the condition of one or more components of the wind turbine (10). If the analysis indicates that a component of the wind turbine (10) needs attention, the system generates an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Frank Møller Hansen
  • Patent number: 11898506
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is described herein. The internal combustion engine system uses one or more fuels that may be hydrophilic. The system uses a water measuring sensor to determine the concentration of water in the hydrophilic fuel. To meet power demands, the system uses the measured water concentration to modify data stored in a fuel map. The fuel map provides a controller the pump speeds and mixing ratio of the fuels for a given power level. The system receives that data and modifies it based on the measured concentration of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Gerstner, Daniel Raymond Baldwin, Robert Graumüller
  • Patent number: 11885268
    Abstract: An assembly for a turbine engine extending along an axis, includes a stator, a low-pressure compressor shaft, a low-pressure compressor comprising a rotor comprising a drum rotatably coupled to the shaft of the low-pressure compressor, and a fan comprising a disk rotatably coupled to the shaft of the low-pressure compressor. The drum has a radially internal part rotatably coupled to the shaft of the low-pressure compressor and a radially external part fixed to the radially internal part by means of detachable fixing means. A first axial retention means is configured to axially and detachably retain the disk of the fan relative to the shaft of the low-pressure compressor. A second axial retention means is configured to axially and detachably retain the radially internal part of the drum relative to the shaft of the low-pressure compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Philippe Gérard Edmond Joly, Jean-Marc Claude Perrollaz, Laurent Jablonski
  • Patent number: 11879366
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control device, in particular in an electromechanical camshaft adjuster, comprising an electric motor and a control transmission coupled to the electric motor via a coupling element and designed as a harmonic drive. A two-armed wire coupler is provided as the coupling element, the arms of which engage in openings of an inner ring of a waveform generator of the control transmission, and the wire coupler has a winding which is wound around the motor shaft of the electric motor in a non-rotating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 11873779
    Abstract: A reciprocating combustion engine includes at least one cylinder, in which a reciprocating piston is arranged back and forth movable. The reciprocating combustion engine includes a pin structure arranged on the combustion chamber side in the area of the cylinder head or the piston bottom. Due to the pin structure, local peak temperatures can be avoided during the combustion process, so that NOx emissions can be avoided or at least greatly reduced. A motor vehicle, for example a commercial vehicle, includes a reciprocating combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus SE
    Inventor: Jochen Cypris
  • Patent number: 11873547
    Abstract: A fuel system, comprising at least one fuel component formed of a steel alloy comprising 0.01-0.31 wt. % carbon, 0.0-0.20 wt. % silicon, 0.15-0.50 wt. % manganese, 0.0-0.015 wt. % phosphorous, 0.0-0.001 wt. % sulfur, 4.80-5.20 wt. % chromium, 4.80-6.20 wt. % nickel, 0.60-0.80 wt. % molybdenum, 0.0-0.550 wt. % vanadium, and 2.000-2.400 wt. % aluminum, wherein the at least one fuel component is configured to come in contact with fuel when fuel is ran through the fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Su, Xiaoli Huang, Steven E. Ferdon, Ross A. Phillips, Manoj M. Thete, Brian J. Wright
  • Patent number: 11867087
    Abstract: There is disclosed a composite fan blade root 100 comprising an outer region 110 comprising composite material and defining an outer inspection surface 120 of the component; an inner region 108 surrounded by the outer region 110; and an internal reflection boundary 102 embedded within the root 100 between the inner region and the outer region. The reflection boundary is configured to change a velocity of a signal emitted into the root from the inspection surface, whereby a signal emitted into the root from the inspection surface 120 may be reflected for detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Christopher Gall, Anthony Newnham
  • Patent number: 11858621
    Abstract: A rotary blade aircraft includes an airframe, a rotor shaft driven about a rotor axis, and a plurality of rotor blades driven by the rotor shaft about the rotor axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a swashplate assembly coupled to the plurality of rotor blades. The swashplate assembly is operable to move the plurality of rotor blades about a respective longitudinal axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a hydraulic control servo coupled between the airframe and the swashplate assembly. The hydraulic control servo is operable to move the swashplate assembly relative to the rotor axis. The rotary blade aircraft includes a harmonic control actuator coupled between the airframe and the swashplate assembly. The harmonic control actuator is operable independently relative to the hydraulic control servo to move the swashplate assembly relative to the rotor axis to reduce vibration at selected frequencies in the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Jason A. Satira
  • Patent number: 11845070
    Abstract: Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ciencia, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Page, George N. Gibson, Stephen B. Cronin, Arturo O. Pilar, Ernest F. Guignon
  • Patent number: 11846212
    Abstract: A valve stem seal includes an elastomeric annular seal body including a first seal body section and a second seal body section. The first seal body section includes a first seal lip configured to sealingly abut against the valve stem to delimit an oil space and a second seal lip axially spaced from the first seal lip and configured to sealingly abut against the valve stem to delimit an air space. The first seal body section includes an annular channel in a radially inner wall between the first seal lip and the second seal lip that is spaced from the valve stem when the valve stem seal is mounted on the valve stem, and the surface of the channel includes an undercut configured to facilitate a deformation of the second seal lip toward the first seal lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Christoph Passow, Hans-Dieter Zander
  • Patent number: 11840984
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for gaseous fuel includes a cylinder and a piston for reciprocal movement in the cylinder along a reciprocal axis, whereby a combustion chamber is at least partially delimited by the cylinder and the piston. The piston includes a piston crown facing the combustion chamber, a piston crown projection of the piston crown in a direction parallel to the reciprocal axis and onto a piston crown plane extending transversally to the reciprocal axis having a piston crown center point, the piston crown comprising a piston bowl surface defining a piston bowl and a piston rim portion enclosing the piston bowl surface. A piston bowl opening is the intersection between the piston rim portion and the piston bowl surface. The piston bowl opening has an opening center of gravity in the piston crown plane. The opening center of gravity is offset from the piston crown center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jan Eismark, Tommy Simonsson, Rickard Ehleskog, Gustavo Hindi
  • Patent number: 11840983
    Abstract: A piston may have an annular body including a crown portion defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a plane containing the longitudinal axis and the radial direction, and a contoured combustion bowl. In the plane containing the longitudinal axis and the radial direction, the crown portion includes a radially outer squish surface, and a swirl pocket having a reentrant surface that extends axially downwardly and radially outwardly from the squish surface defining a tangent that forms a reentrant angle with the squish surface that ranges from 53.0 degrees to 57.0 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ness, Andrew J. Loetz, John R. Brubaker, Christopher L. Batta
  • Patent number: 11840982
    Abstract: A quick return oil cylinder liner is disclosed. The cylinder liner includes an elongated cylindrical body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a liner central axis extending between a first liner axial end and a second liner axial end. The inner surface is configured to form a combustion chamber with a piston and an engine housing. A quick oil return part is arranged on the inner surface of the cylinder liner corresponding to a non-skirt part of the piston. The oil return part is positioned below a position of the inner surface corresponding to an oil blade of an oil ring of the piston when the piston is positioned at a bottom dead center position. The oil return part extends to the second linear axial end and forms at opening at the second liner axial end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Wentao Jiang, Haixiao Chai
  • Patent number: 11834966
    Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The ring adjustment assembly includes a shim plate having a first shim surface removably arranged on an axially facing surface of the annular ring, a carrier plate having a first carrier surface removably arranged on a second shim surface of the shim plate opposite the first shim surface, and a roller pin coupled to a second carrier surface of the carrier plate opposite the first carrier surface. The shim plate is sized so as to locate the roller pin at a predetermined distance from the annular ring so as to adjust a position of the plurality of variable vanes relative to the roller pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
  • Patent number: 11828180
    Abstract: The subject of invention is a method to derive specifications for an eccentric cam located in a void within the piston of an IC engine which will have parallel faces abutting the cam. These faces will drive the cam in a rotary fashion and transmit the energy produced by the piston by means of the cams axle. The method employs two variables: (a) the radius of the cam; (b) the degree of its eccentricity. These determine the slope of these abutting faces which will be rotated from the plane that is perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation. This slope is eccentric specific and produce a unique solution in each instance. This slope will be the same regardless of the cams radius. The result is an engine with no lateral oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: Craig Duane Evans, Logan Bryon Hiers-Evans
  • Patent number: 11821466
    Abstract: A grooved nut for axially securing an inner ring of a bearing that is mounted on an axle or shaft includes a body portion surrounding a threaded inner bore. The body portion has a circumferential outer surface and an axial thickness, the outer surface includes at least one recess, and an axial depth of the recess is smaller than the axial thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Padelis Katsaros
  • Patent number: 11801580
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a seat relative to ball in a valve lapping machine includes a seat spindle assembly, an airbag assembly with a first and a second airbag, and a linear compensator affixed to a frame of the seat spindle assembly and to the seat tooling adapter plate. The airbag assembly is adapted to apply contact force between the seat and the ball. The linear compensator has a top plate, middle plate and a bottom plate. A first set of rails extends in a first direction so as to allow movement between the top plate and the middle plate, while a second set of rails which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction allow movement of the bottom plate relative to the middle plate. A ball valve lapping machine utilizing this apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Allford, Nicholas Augustine