Patents Examined by Kelsey Stanek
  • Patent number: 9593844
    Abstract: A method for operating a waste heat steam generator including an evaporator, an economizer having a number of economizer heating surfaces, and a bypass line connected on the flow medium side in parallel with a number of economizer heating surfaces is provided. The method makes possible higher operational safety and reliability in the control of the waste heat steam generator. For this purpose, a parameter that is characteristic of the thermal energy fed to the waste heat steam generator is used to control or regulate the flow rate of the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9581067
    Abstract: A mixer for a vehicle exhaust system includes an outer shell having an inlet end and an outlet end, an upstream baffle positioned adjacent the inlet end to initiate swirling of engine exhaust gases, and a downstream baffle positioned adjacent the outlet end. An impactor extends between the upstream and downstream baffles, and is spaced radially inwardly from an inner surface of the outer shell by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Guilbaud, Philip M. Dimpelfeld, Eduardo Alano
  • Patent number: 9567929
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed which includes: an engine; a catalyst purifying exhaust gas of the engine; a grille shutter adjusting an opening area of a radiator grille; and an electronic control unit configured to: (a) control an injection quantity of fuel to be supplied to the engine, (b) detect a malfunction of the grille shutter in a state where the grille shutter is closed, and (c) increase the injection quantity when the malfunction is detected in comparison to when the malfunction is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9568251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchange system comprising:—a single apparatus (N) having an area immersed in a fluid bath (N2) and a free space (N1) at the head in which a vapour phase is accumulated,—at least one interspace (P) open at both ends, situated inside said apparatus and completely immersed in the fluid bath,—one or more heat exchange surface (s) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), said system characterized in that it contains all the heat exchange surfaces in a single apparatus and said surfaces are completely immersed in the fluid bath and are fluidly connected to the hot and cold sources, external to said system, through flows of matter. At least one of the heat exchange surfaces (6, 7, 8) is situated inside the interspace and at least another surface (9, 10, 11) is situated in the space between said interspace and the walls of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Eugenio Basini, Alfred Joachim Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 9562486
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine in which an exhaust purification device is provided the control device controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust purification device when the temperature of a three-way catalyst belongs to a temperature range in which it is not less than an activation onset temperature and is less than an activation complete temperature. The control device controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification device to a first air-fuel ratio which is lower than or equal to a theoretical air-fuel ratio when the temperature of the three-way catalyst belongs to a low-side temperature region, and controls the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification device to a second air-fuel ratio which is higher than the theoretical air-fuel ratio when the temperature of the three-way catalyst belongs to a high-side temperature region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemasa Hirooka, Takahiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9556773
    Abstract: A mixing and/or evaporating device (12) for an exhaust system (5) of an internal combustion engine (1) encloses in the circumferential direction a cross section, through which flow is possible. The device (12) has two mutually opposite long side walls (21, 22) and two mutually opposite short side walls (23, 24). The short side walls (23, 24) connect each the two long side walls (21, 22) to one another. A plurality of guide blades (25), which project in the direction of the other long side wall (21, 22) and are set at an angle in relation to the axial direction (20), are arranged at at least one axial end (26, 27) at at least one long side wall (21, 22). Additional guide blades (29) are arranged at at least one long side wall (21, 22) at a distance (s) in the axial direction (20) from an axial end (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Silvia Calvo
  • Patent number: 9545994
    Abstract: A device for feeding fluid to a hydraulic actuator for controlling a pitch of fan blades of a two-propeller turboprop, the device including: a fluid manifold secured to a rotor of the turboprop and including a cylindrical portion including at least two fluid-circulation grooves, each presenting an outlet orifice; a fluid-admission support secured to a stationary portion of the turboprop and including a cylindrical portion including at least two distinct fluid passages opening to fluid-admission tubes and each leading radially into one of the fluid-circulation grooves of the manifold; and a tub constrained to rotate with the fluid manifold and including a cylindrical portion including at least two fluid-flow channels, each fed with fluid by a respective one of the outlet orifices of the fluid dispenser, each fluid-flow channel leading to a respective chamber of a control actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Francois Gallet, Ivan Guy Rouesne
  • Patent number: 9546578
    Abstract: A valve operating system for an engine is provided. The system includes first and second detent mechanisms for holding a cam element at a first position when the cam element is shifted to one side in camshaft directions, and at a second position when the cam element is shifted to the other side. The detent mechanisms include first and second detent cams and first and second pushing members, respectively. The first detent cam includes first and second grooves and a first top portion. The second detent cam includes third and fourth grooves and a second top portion. The first and second grooves have inclining portions extending from the first top portion toward bottoms thereof, inclining with respect to the camshaft directions, respectively. The third and fourth grooves have inclining portions extending from the second top portion toward bottoms thereof, inclining with respect to the camshaft directions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akitomo Takagi, Toshimasa Kotani
  • Patent number: 9540979
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a Diesel Particulate Filter DPF and a Selective Catalytic Reuction SCR connected to one another and disposed upwardly of an engine mounted in an engine room covered by a hood located forwardly of a driving operation section, the DPF and the SCR being disposed in juxtaposition in a vehicle body transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Hasegawa, Masatoshi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9540978
    Abstract: A honeycomb body for exhaust gas aftertreatment includes a first end face, a second end face, a central axis that penetrates the two end faces and a length. The honeycomb body has at least one at least partially structured metallic layer which is disposed about the central axis. A structure of the at least one metallic layer has elevations and depressions which extend at least over part of the length of the honeycomb body and run obliquely to the central axis. At least one metallic connecting strip is provided between adjacent regions of the at least one metallic layer. The metallic connecting strip is shorter than the length of the honeycomb body and forms a brazed connection or welded connection to the adjacent regions. A method for producing such a honeycomb body and a motor vehicle having the honeycomb body are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Peter Hirth, Holger Stock, Rolf Brueck
  • Patent number: 9534503
    Abstract: In a compressor (11) of a turbocharger (1), a compressor wheel (14) is provided in a housing (12) to be capable of rotating. When the wheel (14) rotates, air suctioned through an inlet of the housing (12) is compressed and then discharged through an outlet of the housing (12). Further, an abradable seal layer (16) formed on an inner surface of the housing (12) is abraded by a vane (13) of the rotating wheel (14) such that a tip clearance between the vane (13) and a part of the inner surface of the housing (12) that opposes the vane (13) is adjusted. A corner portion (13a) of the vane (13) on the outlet side of the housing (12) is shaped to move gradually further away from a shroud curve (Lc) of the seal layer (16) toward an end portion of the vane (13) on the outlet side of the housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Isogai
  • Patent number: 9528423
    Abstract: An on-board diagnostics system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system comprises a catalyzed substrate having a catalyzed region and an uncatalyzed region, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The first sensor is located within the catalyzed region of the catalyzed substrate and the second sensor is located within the uncatalyzed region of the catalyzed substrate. A method for on-board diagnostics of the catalyzed substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Paul Richard Phillips, Daniel Hatcher, David Bergeal
  • Patent number: 9518495
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device has an internal combustion engine that discharges exhaust gases, a driveshaft housing that is located vertically below the engine, and a catalyst that is sandwiched between opposing castings of the device that face each other at a split-line. The exhaust gases flow through the catalyst parallel to the split-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Hilbert, Gregg D. Langenfeld, Ryan E. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9512765
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a catalytic converter is disclosed. The method includes: determining an oxygen storage value, which is a dimension for oxygen stored in the catalytic converter, detecting an engine load, carrying out a part evacuation of the oxygen from the catalytic converter with a fuel enrichment when the oxygen storage value exceeds a trigger evacuation threshold value and when the engine load is below a low-load threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Horst, Arnaud Schilly
  • Patent number: 9494064
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to vehicles with reduced emissions. More particularly, this disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses related to vehicles with reduced carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon dioxide emissions may be stored in a carbon dioxide clathrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9494056
    Abstract: An apparatus for generation of energy through organic Rankine cycle comprises a heat exchanger (3) to exchange heat between a high temperature source and an organic working fluid, so as to heat and evaporate said working fluid, an expansion turbine (4) of the radial-outflow type, fed with the vaporized working fluid outflowing from the heat exchanger (3), to make a conversion of the thermal energy present in the working fluid into mechanical energy according to a Rankine cycle, a condenser (6) where the working fluid outflowing from the turbine (4) is condensed and sent to a pump (2) and then fed to the heat exchanger (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: EXERGY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Spadacini, Dario Rizzi, Alessandro Barbato, Lorenzo Centemeri
  • Patent number: 9488128
    Abstract: A thermal torque engine comprising a hot box heated by a thermal agent and a wheel having a plurality of peripherally mounted canisters with diametrically opposed canisters connected by a conduit. One of the pair of canisters having a quantity of refrigerant that is pressurized when within the hot box. The pressurized refrigerant moves to the cooler canister with the process continuing for subsequent paired canisters as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the interior and exterior of the hot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Sparkman
  • Patent number: 9482116
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include systems for controlling cold-reheat extraction in a turbomachine system. Some embodiments include a system having: a high-pressure (HP) turbine section including an exhaust; a reheater conduit fluidly connected with the exhaust of the HP turbine and a reheater, the reheater conduit for passing HP exhaust steam from the HP turbine section to the reheater; a cold-reheat extraction conduit fluidly connected with the reheater conduit upstream of the reheater and downstream of the HP turbine section exhaust; and a control system coupled with the HP turbine section and the cold-reheat extraction conduit, the control system configured to: obtain data about a temperature of the HP exhaust steam; and provide instructions to modify a flow rate of the HP exhaust steam to the reheater in response to the temperature of the HP exhaust steam exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Kamlesh Mundra
  • Patent number: 9470130
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and a method of forming an internal combustion engine are for a marine propulsion device. A first engine casting defines a first flow passage configured to receive the exhaust gases from a piston-cylinder. A die cast second engine casting defines a second flow passage that is configured to receive the exhaust gases from the first flow passage and convey the exhaust gases to a catalyst. The second flow passage has an upstream first leg that is parallel to the first flow passage and a downstream second leg that is transversely oriented to the first leg. An inside corner is between the first and second legs. The second flow passage has an inlet end that is configured to receive exhaust gases from the first flow passage. The first flow passage has an outlet end that is configured to convey exhaust gases to the inlet end of the second flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg D. Langenfeld, Ryan E. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9404379
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a gas turbine shroud assembly. The shroud assembly may include a shroud structure that defines a first cooling chamber and a second cooling chamber. The shroud assembly may also include a first impingement plate disposed within the first cooling chamber and a second impingement plate disposed within the second cooling chamber. Further, the shroud assembly may include one or more cooling channels formed within the shroud structure. The cooling channels may be configured to connect the first cooling chamber with the second cooling chamber. The shroud assembly may also include a flow of cooling air in communication with the first cooling chamber. In this manner, the flow of cooling air may flow from the first cooling chamber to the second cooling chamber by way of the one or more cooling channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Niraj K. Mishra