Patents Examined by Jonathan Matthias
  • Patent number: 9828883
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for open-loop controlling or closed-loop controlling and/or monitoring a device with an expansion engine which is supplied live steam of a working medium that is expanded to exhaust steam in the expansion engine comprising the steps: determining at least one physical parameter of the exhaust steam; determining at least one physical parameter of the live steam based on the determined at least one physical parameter of the exhaust steam; and open-loop controlling or closed-loop controlling and/or monitoring the device based on the at least one determined physical parameter of the live steam. A thermal power plant is also provided in which the method is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Andreas Sichert, Richard Aumann
  • Patent number: 9822683
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine is provided with a filter including a selective catalytic reduction NOx catalyst carried thereon. Further, a post-catalyst is provided for an exhaust gas passage disposed on a downstream side from the filter. The post-catalyst has an oxidizing function, and the post-catalyst has such a function that the production of N2 based on the oxidation of ammonia is facilitated in a predetermined first temperature area. A filter regeneration process execution unit is programmed to control the temperature of the post-catalyst to be in the first temperature area while adjusting the temperature of the filter to be in a predetermined second temperature area lower than a filter regeneration temperature during a certain period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Nobumoto Ohashi, Shigeki Nakayama, Akira Mikami, Kenji Sakurai, Hiroshi Otsuki, Junichi Matsuo, Keishi Takada, Ichiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9822736
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction device, in particular a soil compactor, includes a turbocharged diesel engine with a first radiator arrangement for cooling charge air and a second radiator arrangement for cooling a cooling liquid and/or hydraulic oil, with a first radiator fan being allocated to the first radiator arrangement and a second radiator fan being allocated to the second radiator arrangement and the first radiator fan and the second radiator fan being able to be operated essentially independently from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Andreas Roehr, Thomas Bletscher, Michael Zimmerer
  • Patent number: 9816447
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a compressor surge line. In one example, a method may include adjusting the compressor surge line based on a vehicle speed in addition to a compressor pressure ratio. For example, at higher vehicle speeds, above a threshold vehicle speed, a less aggressive surge line calibration may be utilized in order to improve drivability while at lower vehicle speeds, below the threshold vehicle speed, a more aggressive surge line calibration may be utilized for NVH mitigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Julia Helen Buckland, Hamid-Reza Ossareh, Charlie Teng
  • Patent number: 9797272
    Abstract: A thermal energy recovery device includes: a circulating flow path connected to a heater, an expander, a condenser and a circulating pump for circulating a working medium; a bypass valve in a bypass path connecting the upstream side region and the downstream side region of the expander in the circulating flow path; a power recovery machine connected to the expander; a circulating pump sending the working medium condensed in the condenser to the heater; a cooling medium pump sending a cooling medium to the condenser; an upstream side sensor detecting the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side in the circulating flow path; and a controller controlling the bypass valve and the cooling medium pump. The controller opens the bypass valve after stopping the circulating pump, and drives the cooling medium pump if the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Adachi, Takayuki Fukuda, Koichiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9796477
    Abstract: An air compressing system is provided that includes a compressor configured to compressor air. An engine is operatively connected to the compressor. Further, an infinitely variable transmission is operatively connected between the engine and the compressor. A first shaft operatively connects the engine to the infinitely variable transmission and is configured to rotate at a first speed and a second shaft operatively connects the infinitely variable transmission to the compressor and is configured to rotate at a second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harold W. Hipsky, Gregory L. DeFrancesco
  • Patent number: 9790664
    Abstract: A shovel includes a boom cylinder that drives a boom and an arm cylinder that drives an arm. A hydraulic pump supplies operating oil to the boom cylinder and the arm cylinder. An engine is connected to the hydraulic pump and equipped with a supercharger. The engine is controlled to maintain a revolution speed within a certain definite range. A controller controls a rotating speed of the supercharger. The controller performs a process of increasing the rotating speed of the supercharger so as to increase a supercharging pressure generated by the supercharger before a hydraulic load is applied to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Morita
  • Patent number: 9784138
    Abstract: A waste heat power generation device having: an evaporator that recovers waste heat energy to evaporate a working medium; an expansion turbine generator that generates electric power with the working medium being supplied from the evaporator; a condenser that condenses the working medium discharged from the expansion turbine generator; a pump that feeds the working medium condensed in the condenser toward the evaporator; a measuring device that measures the amount of power generated by the expansion turbine generator per unit time; and a control device that controls the driving of the pump based on the measurement result of the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Takahashi, Hirohisa Wakisaka, Kouichi Machida
  • Patent number: 9784164
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purification system provided with a denitration catalyst layer, a reducing agent oxidation catalyst layer is installed together; a reducing agent and air are supplied into the reducing agent oxidation catalyst layer at the time of catalyst regeneration of the denitration catalyst layer; a high-temperature oxidation reaction gas is produced by a reaction heat generated by an oxidation reaction of the reducing agent and the air in this reducing agent oxidation catalyst layer; and this high-temperature oxidation reaction gas is introduced into the denitration catalyst layer to heat the denitration catalyst, thereby recovering a denitration performance of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Takuma Mori, Susumu Hikazudani, Kiyoshirou Umeo
  • Patent number: 9777602
    Abstract: A system for controlled recovery of thermal energy and conversion to mechanical energy. The system collects thermal energy from a reciprocating engine (for example, from engine jacket fluid) and may also collect further thermal energy from a natural gas compressor (for example, from compressor lubricating fluid). The collected thermal energy is used to generate secondary power by evaporating an organic propellant and using the gaseous propellant to drive an expander in production of mechanical energy. Secondary power is used to power parasitic loads, improving energy efficiency of the system. A supplementary cooler may provide additional cooling capacity without compromising system energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Victor Juchymenko
  • Patent number: 9777714
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from a first end face to a second end face, and has a cell hydraulic diameter HD of 0.4 mm or less, an end face open frontal area of 60% or more and 93% or less, and heat capacity per unit length in the extending direction that tends to decrease with distance from the first end face. A first end portion on the first end face side that accounts for a region of 10% of a total length of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has 1.1 times or more the heat capacity of that of a second end portion on the second end face side that accounts for a region of 10% of the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa
  • Patent number: 9771825
    Abstract: Provided is a steam turbine plant activation control device that can flexibly handle an initial state amount of a steam turbine plant and activate a steam turbine at a high speed. The activation control device 21 for the steam turbine plant includes a heat source device 1 configured to heat a low-temperature fluid using a heat source medium and generate a high-temperature fluid, a steam generator 2 for generating steam by thermal exchange with the high-temperature fluid, a steam turbine 3 to be driven by the steam, and adjusters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 configured to adjust operation amounts of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yoshida, Takuya Yoshida, Tatsuro Yashiki, Yukinori Katagiri, Eunkyeong Kim, Kenichiro Nomura, Kazunori Yamanaka, Fumiyuki Suzuki, Norihiro Iyanaga
  • Patent number: 9771927
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from a first end face to a second end face and mutually converts heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. Hydraulic diameter HD of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, where the hydraulic diameter HD is defined as HD=4×S/C, where S denotes an area of a cross-section of each cell perpendicular to the cell extending direction and C denotes a perimeter of the cross section. The heat/acoustic wave conversion component has an open frontal area at each end face of 60% or more and 93% or less. The partition wall has arithmetic surface roughness (Ra) at the surface of 3 ?m or more and 20 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa
  • Patent number: 9765760
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a plurality of monolithic honeycomb segments each including a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending between both end faces, and the plurality of monolithic honeycomb segments each mutually converts heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid in the cells and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. In the heat/acoustic wave conversion component including the plurality of honeycomb segments each being monolithic configured, hydraulic diameter HD of the cells is 0.4 mm or less, open frontal area of the honeycomb segments is 60% or more and 93% or less, heat conductivity of the honeycomb segments is 5 W/mK or less, and a ratio HD/L of the hydraulic diameter HD to the length L of the honeycomb segment is 0.005 or more and less than 0.02.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa, Naomi Noda
  • Patent number: 9765664
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing liquid additive includes a tank for the liquid additive which has at least one heat distribution structure for distributing heat in a first tank section. A delivery unit is inserted into the tank for removing the liquid additive from the tank. The delivery unit includes at least one heating device. The heating device of the delivery unit and the heat distribution structure of the tank are connected to each other by at least one thermal coupling. A method for assembling the apparatus and a motor vehicle having the apparatus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Peter Bauer, Jan Hodgson, Sven Schepers
  • Patent number: 9765672
    Abstract: This control device for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust purification catalyst, which is disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine and capable of storing oxygen, includes: a downstream air-fuel ratio detection means that is disposed downstream of the exhaust purification catalyst in the exhaust flow direction; and an inflow air-fuel ratio control means that controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst. If the outflow air-fuel ratio detected by the downstream air-fuel ratio detection means is equal to or less than a rich-determination air-fuel ratio, which is richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the inflow air-fuel ratio control means sets the target air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst continuously or intermittently leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio until the oxygen storage amount of the exhaust purification catalyst reaches a prescribed storage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Norihisa Nakagawa, Yuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9759201
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells, inside of the cells being filled with fluid that oscillates to transmit acoustic waves, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component mutually converting heat exchanged between the partition wall and the fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the fluid. The plurality of cells have an average of hydraulic diameters HDs that is 0.4 mm or less in a plane perpendicular to the cell extending direction, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has an open frontal area at each end face of 60% or more and 93% or less, and distribution of hydraulic diameters HDs of the plurality of cells has relative standard deviation that is 2% or more and 30% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Naomi Noda, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 9759111
    Abstract: To provide an exhaust purifying system and a method for controlling the exhaust purifying system that avoid occurrence of clogging, breakage, or the like of a reducing agent injection valve caused by the solidification of a reducing agent and prevent reduction in the efficiency of reducing agent recovery processing and exhaust gas purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Tanioka, Masanori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9759157
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion unit includes a heat/acoustic wave conversion component and two heat exchangers. Hydraulic diameter HD of the cells in the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, and a ratio HD/L of HD to the length L of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is from 0.005 to 0.02. One of the heat exchangers includes a heat-exchanging honeycomb structure and an annular tube that surrounds a circumferential face of the heat-exchanging honeycomb structure. The annular tube includes a structure body that is disposed in the channel to increase a contact area with the heated fluid, an inflow port into which the heated fluid flows, and an outflow port through which the heated fluid flows out. At least one of the heat-exchanging honeycomb structure and the structure body is made of a ceramic material that contains SiC as a main component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Tatsuo Kawaguchi, Naomi Noda, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 9759203
    Abstract: Apparatus that use Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) materials. An exemplary apparatus includes an SMA member that transforms between a first shape and a second shape based on temperature. The apparatus also includes a coil spring that encompasses the SMA member. The coil spring conducts current from a power source to generate a magnetic field that induces heat in the SMA member. The coil spring also stores mechanical energy as the SMA member transforms from the first shape to the second shape when heated to a transition temperature, and exerts force on the SMA member from the mechanical energy to assist the SMA member in transforming from the second shape to the first shape when cooling below the transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jonathan K. Brown