Patents Examined by Kevin R Steckbauer
  • Energy packet control of generator prime mover
    Patent number: 11012016
    Abstract: A controller may use energy packets to control a prime mover of a machine. The controller may include an energy packet measurement control to calculate energy packets and convert the energy packets into a fuel valve reference. Further, a frequency control may receive system feedback associated with the monitored machine and generate a frequency correction based on the system feedback. The controller may add the energy packet value and the frequency correction to determine a prime mover power reference and provide the prime mover power reference to a fuel valve control of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Gregary C. Zweigle, Ellery A. Blood, Scott M. Manson
  • Enhanced film cooling system
    Patent number: 11002137
    Abstract: A turbine blade in an industrial gas turbine includes a blade surface to be cooled by a film of cooling fluid, a plurality of cooling holes on the blade surface through which cooling fluid flows, each cooling hole including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, and a trench on the blade surface surrounding at least one outlet portion of the cooling hole, the trench extending in an axial direction and a radial direction from the outlet portion of the cooling hole, wherein the outlet portion of the cooling hole has a shape configured to generate a first stage diffusion of the cooling fluid and a wall of the trench is positioned in the axial direction from the outlet portion of the cooling hole to generate a second stage diffusion of the cooling fluid, thereby forming the film of cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ronald Rudolph
  • Modular exhaust gas recirculation system
    Patent number: 10995705
    Abstract: A convergent nozzle is in a mixer housing and in a flow path from an air inlet of the mixer to an outlet of the mixer. A convergent-divergent nozzle is in the mixer housing and includes an air-exhaust gas inlet in fluid communication to receive fluid flow from the convergent nozzle and from the interior of the exhaust gas housing. A first nozzle module is configured to be received in the mixer housing and, when received in the mixer housing, define at least a portion of the convergent nozzle or the convergent-divergent nozzle. A second nozzle module is configured to be received in the mixer housing separate from the first nozzle module. The second nozzle module, when received in the mixer housing, is configured to define at least a portion of the convergent or the convergent-divergent nozzle. The second nozzle module has a different flow characteristic than the first nozzle module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Mastbergen, Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson, Yi Han, James Po-Chang Chiu, Doug Leone, Henry David Gemmill Knutzen, Samuel James McCreery
  • Exhaust gas analysis method and exhaust gas analysis system
    Patent number: 10995689
    Abstract: In order to separately evaluate an influence degree of fuel and an influence degree of lubricating oil with respect to particulate matters contained in exhaust gas, an exhaust gas analysis method includes: analyzing particulate matters contained in the exhaust gas exhausted from an engine, thereby making it possible to analyze the particulate matters derived from the lubricating oil by using isooctane as a fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: HORIBA, LTD., SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kiya, Shota Tobe, Kunio Tabata, Kenji Takeda
  • System and method for reducing engine temperature
    Patent number: 10995682
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling an internal combustion engine via flowing air through the internal combustion engine during select conditions are presented. In one example, lift of intake and/or exhaust poppet valves may be adjusted as a function of engine temperature. In addition, opening and closing timings of intake and exhaust poppet valves may be adjusted as a function of engine temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, John Eric Rollinger, Julia Helen Buckland Seeds, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Joshua Schumaker, John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Adam J. Richards
  • Fuel injector with an idle stroke
    Patent number: 10989154
    Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method for actuating a fuel injector with a solenoid drive and a nozzle needle. The solenoid drive has a solenoid and a movable armature. The fuel injector has an idle stroke between the armature and the nozzle needle. An example method includes: applying a precharging current to the solenoid drive during a precharging phase to move the movable armature into mechanical contact with the nozzle needle; and applying a voltage pulse to the solenoid drive during a boost phase until the current intensity of the current flowing through the solenoid reaches a predetermined peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Denk, Gerd Rösel
  • Premixed compression ignition type engine with supercharging system
    Patent number: 10982616
    Abstract: When the geometric compression ratio of an engine body is set to 13:1 or more and the engine body operates in a preset high load region, the effective compression ratio of the engine body is set to 12:1 or more with a difference from the geometric compression ratio being within 2, a gas to be introduced into a combustion chamber is supercharged by a supercharging system, fuel is injected at least in a compression stroke by an injector, and after the fuel injection is finished, an air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is ignited by an ignition device before the compression top dead center and is thus burned by flame propagation in the engine body, and then the unburned air-fuel mixture is burned by compression ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Inoue, Masanari Sueoka, Yusuke Kawai, Tetsuya Chikada
  • Method for controlling an engine in a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10975788
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine in a motor vehicle includes determining a theoretical inertia of a drivetrain during a change of an operating mode of the engine, detecting an actual inertia in the drivetrain during the change of the operating mode, and increasing a rotational speed of the engine in response to detecting the actual inertia. The method further includes detecting an inertia overcome, determining a difference between the theoretical inertia and the inertia overcome, and reducing the rotational speed of the engine if the difference becomes less than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joerg Megner, Benjamin Blatter, Dominik Kohl, Ulrich Franz Uhlirsch, Matthias Brandl, Christoph Mell
  • Method and system for starting an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10975824
    Abstract: A method and a system for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft and an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to the crankshaft are disclosed. An absolute angular position of the crankshaft related to a top dead center position of a piston in a combustion chamber of the ICE is determined. Electric power is delivered to the ETM at a first level to rotate the crankshaft. Electric power is then delivered to the ETM at a second level greater than the first level when the piston reaches a predetermined position before the TDC position. Fuel is injected in the combustion chamber after the piston has passed beyond the TDC position. The fuel is then ignited. In an implementation, the ICE is started in less than 110 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Normand Lebreux, Michel Bernier, David Monfette, Bruno Schuehmacher
  • Device and method for controlling internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10968847
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a purging process that draws the fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the intake passage by controlling the purge valve, a fuel feeding process that feeds the air-fuel mixture, which includes the fuel supplied to the cylinder, to the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder, and a fuel supply process that supplies fuel to the cylinder when the fuel feeding process is being performed. The processing circuitry is further configured to perform the fuel supply process by performing the purging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuto Ikeda, Yuki Nose, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
  • Exhaust gas recirculation valve warming device
    Patent number: 10968872
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve warming device includes an exhaust throttle arranged in an exhaust passage, an exhaust gas recirculation passage that extends from a portion of the exhaust passage that is upstream of the exhaust throttle and is connected to an intake passage, an exhaust gas recirculation valve arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation passage, and a branch passage that extends from a portion of the exhaust gas recirculation passage that is upstream of the exhaust gas recirculation valve in a direction in which exhaust gas flows, in which the branch passage is connected to a portion of the exhaust passage that is downstream of the exhaust throttle. The exhaust gas recirculation valve includes a valve passage that forms part of the exhaust gas recirculation passage and a warming passage that forms part of the branch passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keishi Nanno, Koichi Nishitani
  • Methods and system for engine starting
    Patent number: 10961970
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a powertrain or driveline that includes an engine and a belt integrated starter/generator are described. In one example, the belt integrated starter/generator is used to start an engine unless vehicle operating conditions indicate that the belt integrated starter/generator may be having difficulty starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Lew, David Hancock
  • Method for controlling engine combustion for reducing irregular vibration caused by unstable engine combustion
    Patent number: 10961934
    Abstract: A method for controlling engine combustion may include receiving a signal of a crank position sensor, determining an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of a crank on the basis of the signal of the crank position sensor, determining a combustion characteristic index for each cylinder using the angular velocity and the angular acceleration of the crank, judging an unstable combustion cylinder using the combustion characteristic index for each cylinder, and changing a combustion factor for controlling the unstable combustion cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Jae-Min Jin, Seung-Hyun Lee, In-Soo Jung, Kyoung-Doug Min, Yong-Joo Lee, Seung-Il Lee
  • System and method to reduce engine hydrocarbon emissions
    Patent number: 10954869
    Abstract: Systems and methods for opening and closing exhaust poppet valves of an engine are disclosed. In one example, the exhaust poppet valves may be opened and closed twice during a cycle of an engine via two serially arranged cam lobes that are coupled to a crankshaft so that hydrocarbons may be retained in a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Cindy Zhou, James Yi
  • Control and communication module for light-duty combustion engine
    Patent number: 10954911
    Abstract: —In at least some implementations, a control and communication system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a circuit card, an ignition circuit carried by the circuit card and configured to control an ignition timing of the engine, and a short range wireless communication circuit carried by the circuit card. The communication circuit may include a Bluetooth Low Energy antenna. The ignition circuit may include an ignition capacitor that when drained induces an ignition pulse adapted to fire a spark plug. The system may further include a microprocessor that is coupled to and controls the ignition and communication circuits, and/or a clocking circuit adapted to provide a clocking frequency associated with the timing of the ignition circuit and associated with the communication circuit via a short range wireless communication protocol. The clocking circuit may include a crystal oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
  • Systems and methods for ignition coil multiplexing in a pre-chamber system
    Patent number: 10947948
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for multiplexing ignition signals in an engine system based on engine operating conditions, each cylinder of the engine system including a main chamber spark plug and a pre-chamber system. In one example, a method may include multiplexing spark signals to a first spark plug and a second spark plug, the first spark plug coupled to a pre-chamber of a first cylinder and the second spark plug coupled to a main chamber of a second cylinder. In this way, one ignition coil may be used to actuate two different spark plugs coupled to separate cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Methods and system for storing and activating a calibration for a vehicle
    Patent number: 10934964
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that may be driven to or sold in different geographical locations that may have different engine emissions and fuel economy standards are described. The systems and methods may adjust vehicle operation to comply with standards that may be enforced where the vehicle is geographically located. The standards may apply to countries, treaty zones, race track areas, off-road areas, and other geographically related standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Scott Christensen, Adam Joseph Krach, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky
  • Rocker arm assembly
    Patent number: 10927724
    Abstract: A valve train assembly includes a first exhaust valve, a second exhaust valve, and a valve bridge including a main body and a lever rotatably coupled to the main body, the main body configured to engage the first exhaust valve, and the lever configured to engage the second exhaust valve. An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively open the first and second exhaust valves, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly including an exhaust valve rocker arm with a hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) assembly coupled thereto, the HLA assembly in contact with the valve bridge main body. An engine brake rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively open the second exhaust valve and including an engine brake rocker arm with a combined HLA and added motion capsule coupled thereto. The combined HLA and added motion capsule is configured to selectively engage and rotate the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Nielsen, James E. McCarthy, Jr., Kshamta Bishnoi, Kiran Bairy, Majo Cecur
  • Device for operating an engine
    Patent number: 10927773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for ascertaining an injection time and/or an amount of a liquefied gas fuel—such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), biogas or hydrogen (H2)—to be delivered to a cylinder of an engine (19) in order to operate the engine (19) in a bivalent or trivalent fuel operating mode, said device being designed in such a way that the ascertained injection time of the liquefied gas fuel is dependent on an ascertained calorific power or an ascertained gas mixture characteristic. A gas mixture analysis module (7) is used for optimizing combustion. A gas start mechanism allows a vehicle to be started on gas power even at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: CleanTech Swiss AG
    Inventor: Werner Gieger
  • Intake air assessment for industrial engines
    Patent number: 10920682
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to assessing the intake air flow of industrial engines. For an industrial engine that receives vent gas added to intake air for combustion, a gas concentration sensor is used to measure a concentration of a particular gas, e.g. methane, in the intake air. An amount of the methane component in the intake air flowing to the engine that was added by the vent gas can be determined from the measured concentration of methane in the intake air and a flow rate of the intake air. The intake air flow rate may be directly measured, or calculated using instrumentation which may already be in place for engine air-to-fuel ratio control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: REM TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Howard Malm