Patents Examined by Jesse Bogue
  • Patent number: 9599108
    Abstract: A vane pump includes a first cam ring and a second cam ring, a first rotor positioned in the first cam ring and a second rotor positioned in the second cam ring, and a shaft. The first rotor is engaged with the shaft so that the first rotor rotates relative to the first cam ring about an axis extending through the shaft, and the second rotor selectively engages with the shaft so that the second rotor selectively rotates relative to the second cam ring about the axis. A piston positioned in the shaft translates within the shaft between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the shaft engages with the second rotor so that the second rotor rotates relative to the second cam ring about the axis, and when in the second position, the shaft disengages with the second rotor so that the second rotor does not rotate relative to the second cam ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tushar P. Khanzode, Richard F. Olenzek, Terrence D. Hogan
  • Patent number: 9599152
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a rotary machine is disclosed herein. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing, a squeeze film cylinder, a damper spring, and a journal bearing. The squeeze film cylinder is located within the bearing housing. The damper spring includes a first portion, a second portion, and a spring portion. The first portion is located proximal the first end. The second portion is located proximal the second end. The spring portion extends axially between the first portion and the second portion and is located within the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Jess Lee Freeman, David Howard Moulton, William Courtney Krehbiel
  • Patent number: 9593619
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for flowing exhaust gas in an exhaust system of an engine. In one example, a method may include flowing exhaust gas through a turbine, from the turbine to at least one aftertreatment device, and then from the at least one aftertreatment device to atmosphere, during a first condition. The method may also include, during a second condition, flowing exhaust gas through the at least one aftertreatment device, from the at least one aftertreatment device to the turbine, and then from the turbine to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9593599
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions of novel working fluids uniquely designed for higher cycle efficiencies leading to higher overall system efficiencies. In particular, these working fluids are useful in Organic Rankine Cycle systems for efficiently converting heat from any heat source into mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to novel processes for recovering heat from a heat source using ORC systems with a novel working fluid comprising at least about 20 weight percent cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene (HFO-1336mzz-Z), trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene (HFO-1336mzz-E), or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
    Inventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
  • Patent number: 9587521
    Abstract: A volumetric expander (20) configured to transfer a working fluid and generate useful work includes a housing. The housing includes an inlet port (24) configured to admit relatively high-pressure working fluid and an outlet port (26) configured to discharge to a relatively low-pressure working fluid. The expander also includes first and second twisted meshed rotors (30,32) rotatably disposed in the housing and configured to exp/and the relatively high-pressure working fluid into the relatively low-pressure working fluid. Each rotor has a plurality of lobes, and when one lobe of the first rotor is leading with respect to the inlet port, one lobe of the second rotor is trailing with respect to the inlet port. The expander additionally includes an output shaft (38) rotated by the relatively high-pressure working fluid as the fluid undergoes expansion. A system for generating work using the expander in a Rankine cycle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William Nicholas Eybergen
  • Patent number: 9581147
    Abstract: The invention is an actuator which includes at least one control element which has thermally activatable transducer material and which, in response to the supply or dissipation of energy, changes from a first shape state into a second shape state, and a mechanical energy storage, which is functionally connected to the control element. When the control element is in the second shape state, it exerts a restoring force on the control element which returns the control element to the first shape state. The mechanical energy storage includes an elastomer body, which at least in some regions is in direct physical and thermal contact with the control element. The elastomer body is connected in a spatially fixed manner to the control element in at least two spatially separated joining regions along the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: David Flaschenträger, Thorsten Koch, Björn Seipel, Tobias Melz
  • Patent number: 9574477
    Abstract: A method for operating a reagent metering system which meters a reagent into an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine upstream of an SCR catalytic converter, in which, after the metering operation is ended, at least part of the reagent metering system is emptied by back-suction by means of a reciprocating pump. The procedure according to the invention is distinguished in that during the back-suction, a stop determination determines the flight time of a reciprocating piston of the reciprocating pump from a starting time as far as the stop time, in that a comparator compares the flight time determined with a flight time threshold value, and in that the activation power of the reciprocating pump is reduced if the flight time determined is less than the flight time threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Burger
  • Patent number: 9574462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a power plant, wherein in partial load operation the increase of temperature results at the outlet of the high-pressure turbine section as a consequence of a throttling by means of the intermediate pressure valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Bauer, Norbert Pieper, Hans-Ulrich Thierbach, Michael Wechsung
  • Patent number: 9574489
    Abstract: A turbocharger control system for an internal combustion engine having first and second turbochargers connected in series includes first and second pressure sensors, and a controller. The first and second pressure sensors are disposed in an air intake of the engine, and are configured to sense boost pressure of the first and second turbochargers, respectively. The controller is configured to receive pressure signals from the first and second pressure sensors, and to control operation of at least one of the first and second turbochargers to maintain a desired boost pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David Paul Schenker, Adrian Rothenbuhler
  • Patent number: 9567865
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade clearance system includes an actuator including an actuating portion that can be fixed to an interior surface of a turbomachine housing and a shaft for actuating movement relative to the turbomachine housing, a turbomachine blade seal operatively connected to the shaft of the actuator and configured to move relative to the turbomachine housing to adjust a distance from a turbomachine blade of a turbomachine to maintain a predetermined gap clearance between the blade seal and the blade, a waveguide disposed within the shaft, and at least one antenna disposed in electromagnetic communication with the waveguide such that a signal from the antenna can be directed by the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Jalbert, William E. Rhoden
  • Patent number: 9568017
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower assembly including a ring-shaped planar portion and a sloped guide surface. The ring-shaped planar portion defines a central aperture at which a centrifugal fan is seated. The ring-shaped planar portion is elevated relative to a lower surface of a scroll casing. The sloped guide surface is between the ring-shaped planar portion and the lower surface of the scroll casing. The sloped guide surface slopes towards the lower surface, and extends in a downstream direction towards a partition of the scroll casing at a scroll starting position of the scroll casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Denso International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hayashi, Justin Black, Prakash Thawani, Melissa Buczek, Jie Zeng
  • Patent number: 9556869
    Abstract: A gear pump apparatus is equipped with a pump and a sealing mechanism which is made up of an outer member, an inner member, and a rubber member fit between the outer and inner members. The inner member has a pressure-exerted surface to which pressure, as produced by contact of the rubber member with the inner member arising from application of discharge pressure of the pump, is applied. The pressure-exerted surface has a flange which creates thrust to move the inner member away from the gear pump, thereby bringing the inner member against an inner wall of a pump casing to develop a hermetical seal between a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region within the pump casing. This eliminates the leakage of pressure and ensures torque required for a pumping operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashiba, Naoki Hakamada, Kazunori Uchiyama, Takahiro Naganuma, Tomoaki Kawabata, Kunihito Ando
  • Patent number: 9556867
    Abstract: A vane pump includes a rotor including a first annular groove and a second annular groove. The rotor further includes a cylindrical portion projecting axially from a radial inner side of the first annular groove and fitting over a drive shaft, and a slide contact portion formed on a radial inner side of the second annular groove. The cylindrical portion is slidably received in a bearing hole formed in a first side wall of a housing, whereas the slide contact portion abuts slidably on an inside wall surface of a second side wall of the housing. There is further formed, in the first annular groove, a recessed portion making a pressure receiving area of one of the first and second annular grooves greater than a pressure receiving area of the other of the first and second annular grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Saga, Hideaki Ohnishi, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9556752
    Abstract: A steam turbine system including a steam turbine is provided, the steam turbine having an incoming and an outgoing steam side, and a turbine housing with a feed-through for a turbine shaft with a seal, whereby a fluid flow through the feed-through can be minimized, and a steam conducting system to the seal is present. The steam turbine includes a first sub-section a second sub-section, and a connecting line to a region of low pressure between two sub-sections. A steam supply through the steam conducting system is possible for starting up the steam turbine such that a steam flow from the outgoing steam side to the connecting line to the region of low pressure is possible, an incoming steam feed line has a shut-off that can be controlled such that a steam flow from the incoming steam side to the connecting line to the region of low pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Rudolf Potter
  • Patent number: 9551232
    Abstract: A non-contacting seal is provided, including a first sealing face formed on an end of a primary ring and a second sealing face formed on an end of a mating ring. Grooves may be formed in at least one of the first and second sealing faces, such that the grooves extend from one edge of the respective sealing face to an intermediate radius of the respective sealing face. At least one groove may include an entrance edge along the one edge of the respective sealing face and a dam wall opposite the entrance edge. The at least one groove may also include two symmetric side walls extending from the entrance edge to the dam wall. The two symmetric side walls may include a first convex curve extending from the entrance edge to a transition point and a second concave curve extending from the transition point to the dam wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Olivier Lebigre
  • Patent number: 9551346
    Abstract: A fan includes a first motor portion, a first impeller fixed to a first rotating portion of the first motor portion, a second motor portion arranged along a central axis of the first motor portion, a second impeller fixed to a second rotating portion of the second motor portion, a tubular wind channel portion arranged to surround the first and second impellers, and support ribs arranged to join the wind channel portion to the first and second motor portions. The first impeller includes first blades arranged in a circumferential direction about the central axis and the second impeller includes second blades arranged in the circumferential direction, a rotation direction of the second impeller is opposite to a rotation direction of the first impeller. A surface of each first blade which faces the second impeller is concave. A surface of each second blade which faces the first impeller is concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Jumpei Kitamura, Hidenobu Takeshita, Tomotsugu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9540960
    Abstract: A low energy nuclear thermoelectric system for a vehicle which provides a cost-effective and sustainable means of transportation for long operation range with zero emission using an onboard low energy nuclear reaction thermal generator. The present invention generally includes a thermal generator within a thermal enclosure case, an energy conversion system linked with the thermal generator, an energy storage system linked with the energy conversion system, a cooling system and a central control system. The thermal generator reacts nickel powder with hydrogen within a reactor chamber to produce heat. The heat is then transferred to the energy conversion system to be converted into electricity for storage in the energy storage system. The cooling system provides cooling for the various components of the present invention and the control system regulates its overall operation. The present invention may be utilized to power a vehicle in an efficient, sustainable and cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: LENR Cars Sarl
    Inventor: Nicolas Chauvin
  • Patent number: 9540958
    Abstract: An ORC system for generation of energy by Organic Rankine Cycle comprises a turbo-expander (40) of a radial centrifugal type formed by a single rotor disc (108) and provided with an auxiliary opening (40c). The auxiliary opening (40c) is interposed between an inlet (40a) and an outlet (40b) of the turbine (40) and is in fluid connection with an auxiliary circuit (1000, 2000), such as to extract from the turbo-expander (40) or inject into the turbo-expander (40) the organic working fluid at an intermediate pressure between an injection pressure and a discharge pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: EXERGY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Spadacini, Luca Giancarlo Xodo
  • Patent number: 9541095
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a 2-stage supercharging unit having a housing unit which integrates within it a high-pressure charger and a low-pressure charger. The rotor axes of the two chargers are vertical with respect to the housing unit, which can be screwed directly via the housing base to the side of an internal combustion engine. As a result, increased flexibility is made possible with regard to the connection of the supercharging unit to the cooler and to the internal combustion engine, whereby the structural volume of the supercharging assembly can be additionally reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ABB TURBO SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Christoph Mathey, Joel Schlienger, Olaf Baudisch, Patrick Aberle
  • Patent number: 9534519
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a pressure controlled valve moveable between first and at least second valve positions based on an output pressure of the pressurized lubricant delivered through the outlet. The pressure controlled valve provides an integrated fail safe function to the pump when an electrical valve fails. The pressure controlled valve is inactive in the first position for an output pressure below a threshold level, allowing an electrical valve (pulse width modulation (PWM) valve) to selectively control pressure in the control chamber under normal operation of the pump. In fail safe regulation mode, the electrical valve function is disabled and the pressure controlled valve is active in its second position, controlling pressure in the control chamber. Channels and vents in the pump can be opened and closed based on selective movement of the valve when the outlet pressure is at or above a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: STACKPOLE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LTD.
    Inventor: Ralph Valkenberg