Patents Examined by Philip Eklem
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Patent number: 8621845Abstract: A thermal management system includes an enable module, a status module and a temperature control module. The enable module enables generation of ammonia for use in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts of an exhaust system during a passive SCR mode. The status module determines whether the exhaust system is operating in a passive SCR mode and generates a passive SCR active signal. The passive SCR mode includes operating an engine with rich air/fuel ratios. The temperature control module activates electrical heating of an oxidation catalyst based on the passive SCR active signal and a temperature of the oxidation catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, David B. Brown
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Patent number: 8596068Abstract: An air aspirated hybrid heat pump and heat engine system (20) for selectively heating and cooling a space (22) having an flow path (24) including a compressor (76), a heat exchanger (32), an expander (78), and a generator (68). A combustion chamber (62) is in the flow path (24) for combusting a fuel in the air during a high heating mode. The heat exchanger (32) dissipates the heat from the air, and the expander (78) depressurizes the air while powering the generator (68). Also included is a positive displacement rotating vane-type device (36) having a stator housing (38) extending between longitudinal ends (40). A compression chamber inlet (52) and an expansion chamber outlet (58) are located on opposite longitudinal ends (40) of the stator housing (38) to be in simultaneous communication with the same chamber (48, 50)). A fluid enters the device through the compression chamber inlet (52) and pushes fluid out of the expansion chamber outlet (58).Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Inventor: Gilbert Staffend
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Patent number: 8596050Abstract: A sound attenuating heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine includes a housing, a barrier wall and a fin. The housing includes an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The exhaust inlet is connected to the exhaust outlet by an exhaust flow passage. The coolant inlet is connected to the coolant outlet by a coolant flow passage. The barrier wall fluidly separates the exhaust flow passage from the coolant flow passage. The fin extends from the barrier wall into the exhaust flow passage, and includes a resonator adapted to attenuate sound waves traveling through exhaust gas within the exhaust flow passage. The barrier wall and the fins are adapted to exchange heat energy between the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust flow passage and coolant flowing through the coolant flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: David W. Gerlach, Duane C. McCormick
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Patent number: 8584454Abstract: An electrical power generation device (10) utilising movement of the ocean comprising an elongate column (12) journalled in a support structure (14) for universal movement relative thereto. The support structure is adapted to be secured to the sea bed so that the column is disposed for at least partially submerged universal motion relative to the support structure automatically in response to force transmitted by movement of the ocean in which the support structure and the column reside. The support structure may contain an array of piston and cylinder assemblies (32) in such a construction the supported end (26) of the column is adapted to actuate one or more of the piston and cylinder assemblies in random sequence as a result of movement of the column relative to the support structure. The piston and cylinder assemblies are operatively connected to drive electrical power generators (40).Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Sybre LimitedInventors: Ivan Patrick Williams, John Malcolm Hepworth, David Homfray Slater
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Patent number: 8572951Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a vehicle with an engine. In one example, a method includes identifying an approaching tunnel. The method further includes, responsive to a particulate load of a particulate filter, the particulate filter disposed in an exhaust treatment system of an engine of the vehicle, initiating regeneration of the particulate filter at a selected distance before the tunnel such that regeneration is performed before the vehicle enters the tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Shawn Michael Gallagher, James Robert Mischler, Luke Henry, Stephen Mark Geyer
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Patent number: 8572968Abstract: A solar thermal power plant is provided comprising a solar collection system and a steam-electric power plant. The solar collection system comprises one or more tube radiation absorbers containing a thermal fluid therewithin, the system being configured to heat the thermal fluid by passing the thermal fluid through the one or more tube radiation absorbers while the absorbers are irradiated with solar radiation. The steam-electric power plant comprises an intermediate-pressure steam turbine, a low-pressure steam turbine, at least one additional steam turbine having an inlet pressure higher than that of the intermediate-pressure steam turbine, and piping containing a working fluid. Each turbine is associated with a heat exchange system adapted to transfer heat from the thermal fluid to the working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2008Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Siemens Concentrated Solar Power Ltd.Inventor: Michael Schaal
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Patent number: 8567179Abstract: One embodiment is a system operable to control entry of an oxygen sensor into a learning mode. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Bradlee J. Stroia, Wei Lu
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Patent number: 8555620Abstract: An exhaust gas aftertreatment method may include a regenerating a diesel particulate filter normally, accumulating a time from a point that the diesel particulate filter starts to be regenerated, determining whether the diesel particulate filter enters into an abnormal regeneration condition or not according to a predetermined condition of an engine, and regenerating the diesel particulate filter according to the abnormal regeneration logic, if the accumulated time is within a predetermined time in a condition that the abnormal regeneration condition is satisfied and regenerating the diesel particulate filter according to the normal regeneration logic, if the accumulated time is out of the predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Jun Sung Park
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Patent number: 8555644Abstract: A full steam-driven internal combustion engine includes a mechanical power system, a combustion system and an air supply system. The mechanical power system includes a turbine and a turbine shaft. The combustion system includes a left main cylinder and a left auxiliary cylinder, and a right main cylinder and a right auxiliary cylinder which are arranged at the left or the right side of the turbine shaft respectively. The air supply system includes a high pressure air bottle connected by a high pressure air pipe and an air compressor. A left high pressure air valve and a right high pressure air valve are arranged on the both sides of the high pressure air bottle respectively and these high pressure air valves are communicated with the left or the right main cylinder by the high pressure air pipe and intake valves respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Inventor: Dundun Wang
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Patent number: 8555632Abstract: A wave power generator that can efficiently perform power generation in response to ocean-wave periods, which are waves of varying period, is provided. A vibration receiving portion that is provided in a float floating at a wave surface and that performs power generation by means of vibrations exerted thereon; a mass body that applies a mass loading on the vibration receiving portion from above; a plurality of elastic members that support the mass body in series; and a plurality of locking mechanisms that restrict/release the motion of the plurality of elastic members are provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Ikesue, Takeshi Yasunaga, Makoto Ohta
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Patent number: 8549836Abstract: A method for operating an exhaust system including at least one oxidation catalytic converter, at least one configuration for selective catalytic reduction and at least one measuring probe for determining the effectiveness of the configuration, includes at least determining a conversion effectiveness of the configuration using the at least one measuring probe and calculating an effectiveness of nitrogen monoxide conversion in the oxidation catalytic converter from the determined conversion effectiveness. In this way, an estimate of the effectiveness of the nitrogen monoxide conversion to nitrogen dioxide of an oxidation catalytic converter in the exhaust system can be obtained without additional measuring probes in or on the oxidation catalytic converter. This reduces the maintenance frequency of the exhaust gas system and at the same time enables precise regulation of the exhaust gas conversion as a whole. An exhaust system and a vehicle having an exhaust system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbHInventors: Wolfgang Maus, Rolf Brück
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Patent number: 8528326Abstract: A reciprocating water displacement gravity engine is shown and described herein.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Inventor: Brian J. Hughes
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Patent number: 8522544Abstract: An oceanic wave energy utilization system includes a floating energy collection device, an energy transfer device and an energy conversion device. The floating energy collection device is connected to the energy conversion device via the energy transfer device. The floating energy collection device is made up of a hull-shaped float and a float limitation device. Vertical energy collection plates are arranged at the underside of the float, while the energy transfer device is made up of a fixed seat and an energy transfer rod, said fixed seat being fixed at shore-side or at the seabed and movably connected to the energy transfer rod. The energy transfer rod is movably connected to the floating energy collection device and to the energy conversion device.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Inventors: Yi Zhang, Jilin Zhang, Huijie Zhang, Xiaoqin Zhuo, Feng Liu
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Patent number: 8505301Abstract: A steam engine in which a liquid and a steam are jetted so that a rotor is turned by the reaction thereof, and the rotor having a well-balanced simple structure. In the steam engine, the rotor 5 having a plurality of bent flow paths 53A to 53D arranged at regular intervals therein is rotatably supported in a closed container 1 filled with the liquid being fitted onto a boss portion 11 of the closed container 1. The boss portion 11 is alternately forming slide-contact portions 11A having a steam feed port and recessed portions 11B. The steam fed into the bent flow path 53 from the steam feed port causes the liquid in the flow path to be jetted outward to rotate the rotor 5. The rotor 5 is of a point-symmetrical shape in cross section free of unbalanced weight, has no moving part, and is simple in structure. When the bent flow path 53 communicates with the recessed portion 11B, the steam remaining in the flow path is cooled and disappears, and the flow path is filled with the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Isuzu Motors LimitedInventors: Yasushi Yamamoto, Makoto Abe, Yoshihiro Takei
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Patent number: 8484958Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide the exhaust treatment device of a diesel engine which is capable of prohibiting the execution of DPF regenerating processing in a situation in which the DPF regenerating processing is inappropriate. In order to achieve the object, DPF regenerating mode switch manipulation means (7a) switches a DPF regenerating mode to a normal and acceleration coexistence regenerating mode (51) or an acceleration-sole regenerating mode (52), and DPF regenerating selection manipulation means (7b) switches a position to a normal regenerating permission position (53), a normal regenerating cancel position (54), or an acceleration regenerating execution position (55). When the DPF regenerating mode is in the acceleration-sole regenerating mode (52), the DPF regenerating control means prohibits normal regenerating processing by the DPF regenerating means irrespective of a position selected by the DPF regenerating selection manipulation means (7b).Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Yasuo Fujii, Masanori Fujiwara, Katsushi Inoue, Yuuki Ishii, Kenta Mitamura, Noriyoshi Eguchi
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Patent number: 8484972Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for OTEC plant. The device can be deployed in ocean with depth of 600 meter or more.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Inventor: James Chung-Kei Lau
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Patent number: 8484964Abstract: A wave energy collecting device comprises an array of modules, each including three pairs of buoyant members arranged in a circular configuration, a tubular shaft connector interconnecting each pair of buoyant members, and a trilateral radial plank member comprising three identical equidistantly spaced members located centrally within the circular configuration. Each of the three members of the plank member is linearly connected to a member of the plank member of an adjacent module through a spring assembly and perpendicularly connected with a pivotally hinged shaft of a corresponding tubular shaft connector. A working fluid medium flows within a pipe network lined along sequential members. An array of pumps mounted onto each buoyant member, another array of pumps mounted adjacently each spring assembly and another array of pumps mounted adjacently each shaft, impart wave induced pressure pulses into the working fluid medium, which is subsequently converted into energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Inventors: Georgios Preftitsis, Dimitrios Mavrommatakis
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Patent number: 8479517Abstract: A vapor power cycle apparatus that mixes part of high-temperature liquid-phase working fluid separated from a liquid-phase portion in a gas/liquid separator with high-temperature gas-phase working fluid extracted from a expander and allows the fluid to exchange heat with low-temperature liquid-phase working fluid from a condenser so as to efficiently recover the heat of working fluid and improve thermal efficiency of the entire cycle. The part of high-temperature liquid-phase working fluid separated from the liquid-phase portion in the gas/liquid separator is extracted, the resultant fluid is mixed in a second absorber with high-temperature gas-phase working fluid extracted from an interstage point in the expander to allow liquid-phase working fluid to absorb part of gas-phase working fluid and the high-temperature working fluid is used to heat low-temperature liquid-phase working fluid in a first heater without passing an extracted portion of high-temperature liquid-phase working fluid through a condenser.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Inventor: Haruo Uehara
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Patent number: 8443605Abstract: An installation and methods for storing and returning electrical energy. First and second lagged enclosures containing porous refractory material are provided through which a gas is caused to flow by causing the gas to flow through first and second compression/expansion groups interposed in the pipe circuit between the top and bottom ends, respectively, of the first and second enclosures, each compression/expansion group having a piston moved in translation in a cylinder, each group operating in a different mode, either in compression mode or in expansion mode, one of the two compression/expansion groups receiving a gas at a temperature that is higher than the other group, such that in compression mode it is driven by an electric motor that consumes electrical energy for storage E1, and in a thermodynamic engine mode it drives an electricity generator enabling the electrical energy ER to be returned.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Saipem S.A.Inventor: Jacques Ruer