Patents Examined by Richard L. Chiesa
  • Patent number: 8382884
    Abstract: A PM sensor is provided having high responsiveness and capable of long term detection. A PM sensor includes a sensor element that has particulate collection electrodes to which a particulate collection voltage for causing particulate matter contained in exhaust to adhere to a sensor element is applied, and measurement electrodes to which a measurement voltage for measuring an electrical characteristic of the sensor element is applied, in which, after a particulate collection voltage is applied to the particulate collection electrodes application of the particulate collection voltage is stopped in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, the measurement voltage is applied to the measurement electrodes and the electrical characteristic of the sensor element is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Okayama, Masanobu Miki, Keizo Iwama, Hidetaka Ozawa, Makoto Hattori, Atsuo Kondo, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami, Masahiro Tokuda
  • Patent number: 8376324
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a readjustment-preventing carburetor and a method for preventing the carburetor from being readjusted. The carburetor includes an idle adjusting screw having a concave neck, an idle port and a screw hole communicating with the idle port. The idle adjusting screw is joined with the screw hole as a whole after being adjusted to a certain position, and any further adjustment will cause the concave neck to be broken off to prevent the idle adjusting screw of the carburetor from being readjusted. Additionally, the idle adjusting screw is joined with the screw hole by bonding or welding, thereby fundamentally preventing anyone from readjusting the idle adjusting screw of the carburetor and ensuring the discharge of the gasoline engine always in conformity with the requirements of environmental protection. The carburetor and the method of the present invention have the characteristics of simple process and structure, safety use and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Jiangsu Jianghuai Engine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaojian Zhang, Junxing Wang, Ming Bian, Chengcun Wang, Lu Shi
  • Patent number: 8372183
    Abstract: This invention relates to a detection system for particles suspended in a gas. The detection system includes an electrostatic precipitator constructed to collect the particles from the gas onto a collection surface using the force of an induced electrostatic charge on the particles. The detection system also includes an optical probe coupled with the electrostatic precipitator and constructed to probe the particles with a beam in order to detect the particles. The body of the electrostatic precipitator has a geometry that allows the beam to travel from the optical probe to the collection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: Orono Spectral Solution, Inc., University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Luke D. Doucette, Carl P. Tripp, Brian J. Ninness
  • Patent number: 8366813
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device (100) includes a first electrode (10) that includes a conductive section (12) and a dielectric (14) that covers the conductive section (12), and a second electrode (20) that is disposed opposite to the first electrode (10) at an interval of 0.3 to 3.0 mm. Charged particulate matter contained in a fluid that passes through the space between the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (20), or particulate matter that is contained in a fluid and charged by a discharge that occurs due to application of a voltage between the electrodes (10) and (20) is electrically adsorbed on at least one of the electrodes (10) and (20), and the particulate matter adsorbed on the electrodes (10) and (20) is detected by measuring a change in electrical properties of the first electrode (10), or a change in electrical properties of the electrodes (10) and (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tokuda, Atsuo Kondo, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami
  • Patent number: 8366080
    Abstract: Disclosed is an engine fuel supply apparatus which can be made smaller in size and in which the amount of fuel in an air-fuel mixture can be increased with a fast response in correspondence with the operation of a throttle valve when the engine is accelerated rapidly. The fuel supply apparatus is provided with a fuel booster pump. A portion of an air-fuel mixture is introduced into a negative-pressure chamber of the fuel booster pump via a negative-pressure chamber channel, and the fuel booster pump is actuated. The actuation forces air in a pump chamber to flow into a pressure chamber, and fuel in a fuel storage chamber is temporarily supplied to a carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Abe, Yukio Sugimoto, Eiichi Utsugi
  • Patent number: 8361193
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for electrostatic air filtering in automotive vehicles, such as electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The system includes an electrical distribution system and an electrostatic filtering system having discharge electrodes and an accumulation electrode. The distribution system is in high-voltage electrical communication with the filtering system as well as an electric motor and a high-voltage energy storage device in the vehicle. In operation, the distribution system distributes high-voltage electric power to the filtering system. The filtering system receives the high-voltage electric power to generate a high-voltage electrostatic potential between the accumulation electrode and the discharge electrodes to remove particulates from air flowing through a region of the electrostatic filtering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Paul Perkins, Renata Michaela Arsenault, Jimmy H. Kapadia, Steven A. Daleiden, Alan McDonald, Richard Michael Isaacs, Allen Dennis Dobryden, Matthew Fleming
  • Patent number: 8356805
    Abstract: A carburetor for an internal combustion engine has a carburetor housing and a mixture forming passage provided in the carburetor housing. A throttle and a choke valve are rotatably arranged in the mixture forming passage on a throttle shaft and a choke shaft, respectively. A lever arrangement has a throttle adjusting lever mounted on the throttle shaft and a choke adjusting lever mounted on the choke shaft. The throttle valve and the choke valve are adjustable in several operating positions and the lever arrangement assumes appropriate positions corresponding to the operational positions, respectively. A release device for releasing a locking action between the throttle adjusting lever and the choke adjusting lever when an emergency stop is actuated is provided. A spring forcing the choke adjusting lever in a direction toward an engagement plane with the throttle adjusting lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Hänssler, Stefan Kummermehr, Stefan Borchert, Alexander Kraus
  • Patent number: 8357233
    Abstract: Devices for removing particles for a gas utilizing electrostatic precipitation having collector modules with fewer electrical connections, which facilitate cleaning, and/or eliminate the need for high voltage connections between a removable collector module and a collector module support. Driver electrode modules provide electrical connection between an insulated driver electrode and a source of electrical potential or between insulated driver electrodes and at least one other conductor through a hole in or on some edge on the driver electrodes. A biasing force is provided and a conductive element serves as a conductor between the driver electrode(s) and the other conductors. A plurality of insulated driver electrodes, e.g. plates, are formed with a single, conductive plate or from a plurality of electrically joined conductive plates which are coated with insulation and then bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Sik Leung Chan
  • Patent number: 8348244
    Abstract: A carburetor valve and limiter cap assembly for limiting adjustment of fuel flow in a carburetor may include a needle valve and a limiter cap. The needle valve may have a tip, a threaded portion, a head having a flange with an outer diameter greater than the rest of the head, and one or more serrations formed on the head. The limiter cap may have a sidewall, a tab extending outwardly from the sidewall, a first cavity having an inner diameter sized for an interference fit with the flange, and at least one driving feature to engage at least one serration so that rotation of the limiter cap causes rotation of the needle valve. The interference fit between the flange and the limiter cap inhibits removal of the limiter cap from the needle valve to prevent undesired adjustment of the needle valves by an end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kojima, Hidenori Sasaki, Masashi Sasaki, Hitoshi Terakado
  • Patent number: 8349052
    Abstract: An electric precipitator prevents dielectric breakdown by ensuring the dielectric distance among a plurality of electrodes. The electric precipitator includes a charging section for charging dust particles in air, and a collecting section for collecting the dust particles charged by the charging section. The collecting section includes a high voltage electrode having a conductive layer coated with a dielectric layer, and a low voltage electrode having at least one protrusion that maintains a gap between the high voltage electrode and the low voltage electrode. The conductive layer includes at least one cutting part formed in an area corresponding to the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyong Soo Noh, Kochiyama Yasuhiko, Jun Ho Ji, So Young Yun, Han Wook Cho
  • Patent number: 8337600
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator for removing solid and liquid components from an aerosol includes a precipitator housing having a raw gas inlet for an aerosol to be cleaned, a clean gas outlet for cleaned aerosol, and at least one aerosol supply channel flange-mounted to the raw gas inlet, a drain device for solid and liquid components that are separated from the aerosol, an ionization stage externally powered via a high-voltage bushing and including at least one metallic high-voltage rod that extends into a flow path of the aerosol and to which high voltage is applyable, and a collector stage disposed in the flow path downstream of the ionization stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Karlsruher Institut Fuer Technologie
    Inventors: Hanns-Rudolf Paur, Andrei Bologa, Klaus Woletz
  • Patent number: 8336863
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas liquid contactor and effluent cleaning system and method and more particularly to an array of nozzles configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas. An embodiment of the invention is directed towards a gas liquid contactor module including a liquid inlet and outlet and a gas inlet and outlet. An array of nozzles is in communication with the liquid inlet and the gas inlet. The array of nozzles is configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas flow and maximize gas flow and liquid flow interactions while rapidly replenishing the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Neumann Systems Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kurt Neumann, Nicholas J. Miller, Boris R. Nizamov, Thomas Lee Henshaw, Andrew R. Awtry, Jason K. Brasseur, Keith R. Hobbs, Jason A. Tobias, William E. McDermott
  • Patent number: 8333366
    Abstract: A carburetor includes a body, a throttle valve positioned in an air/fuel passageway in the body, a fuel bowl coupled to the body, a fuel bowl chamber at least partially defined by the fuel bowl, and a one-piece fuel-metering insert coupled to the body. The insert includes an idle circuit passageway having a first end in fluid communication with a fuel passageway in the body and a second end in fluid communication with the fuel bowl chamber. The insert also includes a main circuit passageway having a first end in fluid communication with the air/fuel passageway and a second end in fluid communication with the fuel bowl chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Brett W. Jury, David D. Roth
  • Patent number: 8333828
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to degassing and cleaning of hydrocarbon fuel. Degassing of hydrocarbon fuel is a way to remove the dissolved gases which aid in the oxidation of the fuel as well as the removal of sulfur, water and other particulate matter through radial cavitation. This process allows for both improvements in efficiency as well as decrease in emissions of standard fuel and the re-refining of fuels which have broken down. University of Idaho did a study on the breakdown of diesel fuel and found out that 26% of the efficiency is lost by the 28th day after fuel processing. In one embodiment, the fuel is subjected to fluid-shear forces and cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Labs LLC
    Inventor: Joseph L. Donnelly
  • Patent number: 8328907
    Abstract: A system includes a resonant frequency modeler for determining a resonant frequency of a node on a collecting plate that collects particles from a gas flow; and a wave generating device that applies a wave having an applied frequency substantially equal to the resonant frequency to the node of the collecting plate to remove particles from the collecting plate. An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) including the system and related method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8328902
    Abstract: A device and method for controlling the rapping of at least one collecting electrode plate (30) of an electrostatic precipitator (1) is provided. The device controls such rapping by applying, by means of a power source (32), a voltage between at least one collecting electrode plate (30) and at least one discharge electrode (28). The sparking rate between the at least one collecting electrode plate (30) and at least one discharge electrode (28) is then measured, with the rapping of the at least one collecting electrode plate (30) controlled using the measured present sparking rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Scott A. Boyden, Anders Karlsson
  • Patent number: 8328167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the aeration of liquid media by tube aeration, special tube modules contained therein and the use of a device for the aeration of liquid media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Bayer Technology Services GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Kauling, Hans-Jürgen Henzler, Sebastian Schmidt, Helmut Brod, Klaus Kaiser, Stephan Kirchner, Dirk Havekost
  • Patent number: 8323386
    Abstract: A compact electrostatic particulate collector for sampling contaminants has a collection chamber defined by a titanium inner surface of a wall. A potential inducer is disposed within the chamber to create a field potential between itself and the wall of the chamber. A blower is disposed to propel air to be sampled through the chamber. At least one rinse channel is disposed to wet the inner surface of the wall of the chamber substantially 100%. The rinse channel is angled to direct a rinse liquid in a spiral direction around the inner surface of the wall. Contaminants in the air being sampled are electro statically biased into the rinse liquid on the wall and rinsed out of the chamber for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Matthew Langle, Buddy Justin Winheim, Noah Boydston, Steven D. Graham, Nancy Zamora Olivares, Mark Edward Reynolds, Thomas John Breier
  • Patent number: 8323385
    Abstract: A conducting filter adapted for removing airborne particles from the atmosphere and a filter assembly including such a filter. The conducting filter is made from a polymer which has received significantly increased electrical conductivity by a doping process, the doped polymer referred to as a synthetic metal, the synthetic metal having electrical properties such that the filter according to the invention, including such polymer, may be supplied with electrical charge and whereby maintain its efficiency with regards to the electrostatic properties during operation. In the filter assembly according to the invention, the conducting filter may be supplied with electrical charge by connecting it to a voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Mikael Nutsos
  • Patent number: 8317908
    Abstract: An air purifier has an air blower and a rotating brush, the brush having long flexible bristles made of a material that is capable of developing negative triboelectric charge. During a portion of the rotation cycle, the bristles move across a surface that can accumulate a positive charge. This causes the bristle to charge negatively. Air impurities are attracted to the negatively charged bristles and are discharged into a collecting bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kaz USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Fraden