Patents Examined by Kevin A Lathers
  • Patent number: 11879377
    Abstract: A system including an engine block and a crankshaft able to rotate around axis A, and a pump with an impeller, the impeller mounted coaxially to the crankshaft such that the crankshaft drives the impeller. The system can be part of an engine for a vehicle, and the pump can drive water or other coolant through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Kroon, Mattias Svensson
  • Patent number: 11879338
    Abstract: An opposed, free-piston engine includes a pair of adjacent cylinders, each extending from a first cylinder end to a second cylinder end along an elongate axis and having a first cylinder housing a first pair of opposed, free pistons including a first piston housed towards the first cylinder end and a second piston housed towards the second cylinder end; a second cylinder housing a second pair of opposed, free pistons having a third piston and a fourth piston; and a pair of link rods including a first link rod and a second link rod. The first link rod has a first link rod end and a second link rod end, the second link rod having a third link rod end and a fourth link rod end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: James Turner
  • Patent number: 11867113
    Abstract: A generator set configured to provide an electrical output to an external electrical load. The generator set includes an engine configured to drive an electric generator, the engine including an engine block, where the electric generator is configured to couple to the external electrical load. The generator set includes a heating system in fluid communication with the engine block, the heating system including an electric fluid heater, where the electric jacket fluid includes a resistive load configured to supplement the external electrical load. The generator set includes a control system for: monitoring a first parameter of the engine; generating a first control signal in response to the first parameter being less than a first threshold; and increasing the external electrical load by turning on the electric fluid heater in response to the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek K Mishra, Rajaram Namachivayam, Paul W Fraysure, III, Gareth Osborne, William R English, Christopher J Worrall
  • Patent number: 11859580
    Abstract: A device for supplying injection water capable of stably supplying the water to a water injection system of a vehicle. The device for supplying injection water includes a storage unit configured to store water, a management unit mounted on the storage unit and configured to detect a state of the water stored in the storage unit and manage the water, a transport unit connected to the storage unit through the management unit and configured to outwardly move the water, and an integrated controller configured to control operations of the management unit and the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, HYUNDAM INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Won Lee, Seung Hoon Choi, Seong Cheol Cho, Yong Taek Hwang, Chan Yo Jeon
  • Patent number: 11859494
    Abstract: A combined circulating system of a micro gas turbine, a transportation means, and a charging system are provided. The circulating system includes the micro gas turbine, a heat exchange unit, a circulating water tank, a piston engine, and a power generating apparatus, wherein the micro gas turbine is provided with a regenerator; an exhaust port of the regenerator is connected with an air inlet of the heat exchange unit to provide a heat source to the heat exchange unit; the exhaust port of the heat exchange unit is led to atmosphere, a water inlet of the heat exchange unit is connected with a water outlet of the circulating water tank, and a steam outlet of the heat exchange unit is connected with the piston engine to enable high pressure steam to enter the piston engine to push the piston engine to produce work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGIES' XANADU OF RESONATORY-SOLAR-SYSTEMED CO., LTD
    Inventor: Pu Jin
  • Patent number: 11859531
    Abstract: An auxiliary generator drive for a belt driven generator being powered by an internal engine, the auxiliary generator drive including a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydraulic motor is arranged and adapted to drive the generator and to be driven via a hydraulic pump powered by the internal engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Heinz Tiedemann, Anton Mahler, Roland Wiktor
  • Patent number: 11850917
    Abstract: A heat exchanger bracket for an automotive cooling module may include a first mounting assembly disposed at a first end of the heat exchanger bracket, a second mounting assembly disposed at a second end of the heat exchanger bracket, and a bracket container disposed between the first and second ends of the heat exchanger bracket. The first mounting assembly may include a first free floating retention point, and the second mounting assembly may include a second free floating retention point. The bracket container may be configured to receive a heat exchanger. The bracket container may include a first flexible retainer disposed at a first longitudinal end thereof, and a second flexible retainer disposed at a second longitudinal end thereof. The first and second flexible retainers may be configured to engage opposing longitudinal ends of the heat exchanger responsive to insertion of the heat exchanger into the bracket container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Brett Sovine, Kenneth James Hayes, Jeff James Cremering, Korey Martin Erickson
  • Patent number: 11840320
    Abstract: A method of operating a vessel includes providing hydrogen or a fuel mixture containing hydrogen and a hydrocarbon fuel to a power generator disposed on the vessel, and providing power from the power generator to an electrical load of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Carl Cottuli, Suminderpal Singh, K. R. Sridhar
  • Patent number: 11840970
    Abstract: A generator and off-board fuel delivery system is disclosed. The generator is configured to operate on one or more fuels, including on a gaseous fuel supplied from a pressurized fuel source through a gaseous fuel line. A fuel regulator system is located off board the generator and is configured to regulate the gaseous fuel supplied from the pressurized fuel source in a first stage, with the gaseous fuel regulated down to a reduced pressure in the first stage. A second stage of the fuel regulator system regulates the reduced pressure gaseous fuel, with the reduced pressure gaseous fuel from the first stage regulated down to a desired pressure in the second stage for delivery through the gaseous fuel line to operate the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Champion Power Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Sarder, Aleko D. Sotiriades, James J. Dehn, Leigh Jenison
  • Patent number: 11828211
    Abstract: A method for operating an active oil separator for separating oil from exhaust air of a crankcase of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine. An engine operating state of the internal combustion engine is detected. A first SET rotational speed of the oil separator is determined as a function of the detected engine operating state and a first characteristic map. A maximum SET rotational speed of the oil separator is determined as a function of the first SET rotational speed by the determination device. A preferred SET rotational speed is determined on the basis of the maximum SET rotational speed by a determination device. An electric motor is controlled to drive the oil separator at the preferred SET rotational speed by a control device. A device is also provided for separating oil from exhaust air of a crankcase of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Birnbaum, Axel Wachtendorf
  • Patent number: 11828208
    Abstract: The invention discloses a two-stroke internal combustion engine having an engine housing with a crankcase in which a crankshaft is connected to a piston moving in a cylinder, an exhaust port leading from the cylinder space and opening at the level of the lower dead center of the crankshaft, the exhaust port is configured to be closed by a piston when the crankshaft is in its top dead center position, characterized in that it further has a rotary disk with an opening or recess on a part of its circumference, or with a protrusion on a part of its circumference, the rotary disk extending with its circumference into the exhaust port so that the exhaust port is completely closable by the rotary disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Marek Zak
  • Patent number: 11828221
    Abstract: A Schnuerle scavenging two-stroke engine is provided that can keep combustion stability in a wide rotation speed range while suppressing blow-by. The engine of the present invention is a Schnuerle scavenging two-stroke engine (2). A scavenging passage (14(in1)) related to at least one scavenging port (16(in1)) has, at its upper end portion (14a(in1)), an intake-side wall surface (204). The intake-side wall surface (204) defines a first flow direction (42) of scavenging gas discharged from the scavenging port (16(in1)) at a height level of the scavenging port (16(in1)). The upper end portion (14a(in1)) of the scavenging passage (14(in1)) related to the scavenging port (16(in1)) has a guide portion (50) defining a second flow direction (44) of scavenging gas discharged from the scavenging port (16(in1)). The second flow direction (44) is deflected to the intake side from the first flow direction (42) at the height level of the scavenging port (16(in1)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAMABIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamazaki, Ken Shirai, Hisato Onodera, Koichirou Ogura
  • Patent number: 11821392
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing ice formation in a charge air cooler. In one example, a method includes, operating a radiator fan of a vehicle in a first direction to cool an engine of the vehicle, and reversing a direction of rotation of the radiator fan to blow heated air towards a charge air cooler, the charge air cooler arranged proximate a radiator of the vehicle. Operating the radiator fan in a first direction may be based on the engagement of one or more gears of a transmission of the vehicle while operating the radiator fan in the reverse direction may be based on an engine temperature condition, one or more ambient weather conditions, and an engine idle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Spannbauer, Shuya Shark Yamada, Stephen George Russ
  • Patent number: 11821384
    Abstract: A method to manufacture an automobile vehicle engine aluminum piston, comprises: printing an aluminum piston crown portion including an additive manufacturing (AM) piston crown work piece using initial aluminum powders defining an initial aluminum powder bed; removing the aluminum piston crown portion from the initial aluminum powder bed; fixedly joining a cast iron ring carrier to the AM piston crown work piece; placing the aluminum piston crown portion together with the cast iron ring carrier into a secondary and a tertiary aluminum powder bed; and printing a piston skirt integrally connected to the AM piston crown work piece and to the cast iron ring carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qigui Wang, Jeffrey B. Harris, Ante Tony Lausic, Paul J Wolcott, Dale A. Gerard, Tyson Whittier Brown
  • Patent number: 11815294
    Abstract: Provided is an engine system. The engine system includes a mixer mixing air and vaporized fuel to form a mixture, an engine driving a cylinder with the mixture discharged from the mixer, a first storage tank supplying the vaporized fuel to the mixer, a second storage tank storing liquid fuel or supplying the stored liquid fuel to the first storage tank, and a heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the liquid fuel discharged from the first storage tank and gas flowing to the engine, thus vaporizing the liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Heejoong Jang, Hojong Jeong
  • Patent number: 11808200
    Abstract: An engine system is provided, including an engine having a water jacket, a circulation system that circulates coolant through the water jacket, and a controller. The circulation system includes a radiator passage including a heat exchanger, a bypass passage bypassing the heat exchanger, a flow rate control device, and a thermally-actuated valve connected to the radiator passage and that opens to allow the coolant to pass through the heat exchanger. When an engine load is below a first load, the controller controls the flow rate control device to adjust the coolant flow rate flowing through the water jacket according to the load, by closing the radiator passage and adjusting the coolant flow rate flowing through the bypass passage. When the load is above the first load, the controller controls the flow rate control device so that the coolant flows through each of the radiator passage and the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Misumi, Takuma Yamagaki
  • Patent number: 11808202
    Abstract: An engine crank pulley structure disposed at a vehicle front side of a longitudinal engine includes: a front pulley that transmits crank rotational force to the water pump via a belt; a rear pulley that is disposed at a vehicle rear side of the front pulley and transmits a crank rotational force to a compressor via a belt; and a connecting portion that connects the front pulley and the rear pulley, the connecting portion crushing and deforming in a vehicle front-rear direction as a collision load toward the vehicle rear side is applied to it. An outer diameter of the front pulley is smaller than an inner diameter of the rear pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Koichi Hirata, Satoshi Nishizaka, Kazuhiro Tokushima, Yuzo Fujino
  • Patent number: 11808220
    Abstract: An engine includes an engine block with at least one cylinder bank including cylinder bores formed therein. A piston is reciprocatingly disposed in each of the cylinder bores. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted to the engine block. Connecting rods are rotatably attached to the crankshaft and are coupled to the piston. A cylinder head with intake valves and exhaust valves in fluid communication with the cylinder bores is mounted to each cylinder bank. At least one permanent magnet is disposed in a skirt of each piston. At least one electromagnet is positioned adjacent to the permanent magnet(s). A control system selectively provides an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Douglas Alan Pelmear
  • Patent number: 11788443
    Abstract: A method for controlling oil pressure in a controllable oil pump of an internal combustion engine system. A vehicle is arranged in communication with a control unit, the method comprising: receiving an indication of an upcoming vehicle operating situation affecting an operation of the ICE system; determining an expected change in the operation of the ICE system for the upcoming vehicle operating situation; determining a current oil pressure of the oil pump; and on the basis of said determined expected change in the operation of the ICE system and the determined current oil pressure of the oil pump, determining a minimum oil pressure for the oil pump for the upcoming vehicle operating situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oscar Stjernberg, Martin Wilhelmsson
  • Patent number: 11788494
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for supplying a gaseous fuel that comprises a low temperature tank for receiving the fuel in its liquid aggregate state achieved by cooling and comprises a rail that is fluidically connected to at least one injector device for discharging gaseous fuel into a combustion space. The system is characterized in that it has a pressure store that is configured to receive gaseous fuel and that is fluidically connectable to both the low temperature tank and the rail to buffer fuel coming from the low temperature tank and to supply it to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MACHINES BULLE SA
    Inventors: Bouzid Seba, Ulrich Weiss