Patents Examined by Sheldon J Richter
  • Patent number: 6966185
    Abstract: In an engine cogeneration system in which power generators 5 to 8 are driven by a plurality of engines 1 to 4 to thereby supply electric power to power load 22 of a general household, at the same time, heat produced by cooling each of the engines 1 to 4 and heat generated from the exhaust gas are recovered by heat exchangers 18 and 19 to be stored as hot water into a hot-water tank 20 to supply heat to heat load 21 of the general household, the amount of power to be supplied and of the amount of heat to be supplied are controlled by a number of the engines 1 to 4 and the combustion modes of these engines 1 to 4. This engine cogeneration system can follow both the head demand and power demand in a high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shimada, Kazumasa Ide, Shiro Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 6964168
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for producing mechanical power from a heat source. In various illustrative examples, the system may include a heat recovery heat exchanger, a turbine, an economizer heat exchanger, a condenser heat exchanger, and a liquid circulating pump, etc. In other embodiments, a desuperheater may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: TAS Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom L. Pierson, John David Penton
  • Patent number: 6962054
    Abstract: The invention is a method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant by pumping a heat exchange fluid around a set of tubes in the first heat exchanger; increasing the heat exchange fluid temperature and cooling the compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second and third heat exchanger and a vessel; injecting a hydrocarbon flow into the set of tubes in the second heat exchanger; flowing the heated fluid into the second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow whose temperature increases between 90% and 500%; flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; flowing the heated fluid from the first heat exchanger to a third heat exchanger and cooling the excess heated heat exchange fluid; and using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Linney, Michael B. Bibb, Timothy Ray Bauer
  • Patent number: 6957535
    Abstract: In a variable exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine including an exhaust gas turbocharger to which exhaust gas is supplied from the engine to provide a torque for driving the turbocharger, an additional device is provided which includes an electrical or mechanical drive for supplying an additional torque to the exhaust gas turbocharger in order to maintain the exhaust gas turbocharger at a certain speed at which it is capable of generating a desired inlet air pressure for the charge air supplied to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Sumser, Peter Fledersbacher, Helmut Finger, Manfred Stute
  • Patent number: 6955050
    Abstract: A thermal storage unit having at least one annular flow channel formed between an inner and outer member is provided. The thermal storage unit uses conventional mill products to create annular flow channels that economically maximize the surface area of flow in contact with the thermal mass included in the inner and outer members. This enables the thermal storage unit to economically provide heat storage as well as effective heat delivery and pressure containment for a fluid flowing through the annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Perkins, Robert S. Hudson
  • Patent number: 6955049
    Abstract: A machine and system for power generation through movement of water having an array of power generating cells electrically interconnected, where the array is configured in an interchangeable modular fashion and the cells are positioned to receive kinetic energy from the movement of water to generate electricity through the movement of an electrical turbine within each cell. The individual turbines and cells may generate relatively small amounts of electricity and use polymer magnetics in the impellers and windings in the turbine to withstand ocean environments and are stacked on electrically conductive trays for ease of installation and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Wayne F. Krouse
  • Patent number: 6948458
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine wherein each cylinder has two pistons placed in the opposite direction and attached together by an arm-type connecting rod and wherein a cylinder head has a rotor blade rotating in the middle between the upper cylinder head and the lower cylinder head whereby the upper cylinder head and the lower cylinder head are perforated with an intake port and an exhaust port. The rotor blade is perforated with one port and rotates by a gear which is at the outer edge of the rotor blade. When the piston reaches the power stroke, it generates force to act on the arm-type connecting rod and when the connecting rod arm moves in a linear motion, it transmits the force towards the crankshaft or the transmission shaft which is attached by a guide rail platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Amorn Ariyakunakorn
  • Patent number: 6945046
    Abstract: The invention concerns a casing aggregate for the turbine of an exhaust turbocharger. The invention is identified by the following characteristics: a spiral casing adapted for surround the running wheel of the turbine; a tongue-like wall part (tongue) in the inside of the spiral casing; an inlet connection; an outlet connection; a flange to connect to a bearing casing; wherein the casing aggregate is manufactured of thin-walled precision casting; wherein the casing aggregate is made of at least two parts, so that at least one separation joint is present; and the separation joint is arranged as follows: it runs in an axially perpendicular level; it runs along the apex line of the spiral casing; it extends over an arc of a circle of approximately 270 degrees; it lies outside of the area of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Ruediger Allmang, Hartmut Claus, Volker Simon
  • Patent number: 6945048
    Abstract: An exhaust pressure restriction device with bypass passageway is provided. The device comprises a turbocharger having a turbine portion, a restrictor fitting and a bypass fitting. The turbine includes an exhaust gas inlet, a turbine wheel, an exhaust gas outlet and a waste gate valve. The restrictor fitting comprises an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet and an orifice disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and the exhaust gas outlet. The restrictor fitting is mated to the turbine such that the exhaust inlet of the restrictor fitting communicates with the exhaust outlet of the turbine. The bypass fitting has an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, and a bypass passageway. The exhaust gas outlet of the bypass fitting is adapted to communicate with the exhaust system of the vehicle and to be matingly fitted to both the restrictor fitting and the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Todd Matthew Whiting
  • Patent number: 6945043
    Abstract: A Stirling engine comprises a first porous body having a large hole diameter, a second porous body having a small hole diameter and a ring for fixing the first porous body and the second porous body in a pressurization chamber inside a gas outlet closer to the pressurization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Okano, Shohzoh Tanaka, Kazuhiko Ueda, Yoshiyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6945234
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (1) having a compressor (5) which method makes possible an actualization of a pump limit of the compressor (5). A pressure ratio across the compressor (5) is limited in dependence upon a mass flow through the compressor (5) by means of the pump limit in order to prevent a pumping of the compressor (5). In at least one operating state of the engine (1), a check is made as to whether a pumping of the compressor (5) occurs. The pump limit is corrected in dependence upon the test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bleile, Michael Scheidt
  • Patent number: 6938418
    Abstract: An aircraft control system includes a propeller governor in which a stepper motor is used to apply a compression force on a speeder spring, and a turbocharger in which a stepper motor is used to actuate a needle valve associated with a diaphragm cell. An electronic control unit may be used to control the stepper motor in the propeller governor and the stepper motor in the turbocharger. The integration of the propeller governor and the turbocharger into a single control system decreases the number of individual adjustments that must be performed manually by the pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Koch, Heinz Lippitsch, Johann Bayerl, Manfred Moseneder, Gerald Mayr
  • Patent number: 6938420
    Abstract: A first compressor (1a) which supercharges intake air is provided in the intake passage (6, 20, 21) of an internal combustion engine (12). The first compressor (1a) is driven by the exhaust gas energy of the engine (12). A second compressor (2a) driven by an electric motor (2b), and a bypass valve (3) which bypasses the second compressor (2a), are provided in the intake passage (7, 20, 21) between the first compressor (1a) and the engine (12). The bypass valve (3) shifts from the open state to the closed state according to the operation of the second compressor (2a). At this time, the bypass valve (3) starts closing at some time after startup of the second compressor (2a) so that the intake air amount of the engine (12) is not deficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawamura, Kenichi Fujimura, Ryou Ikegami, Susumu Kubo, Hideharu Kadooka, Naoki Mishima, Motoyuki Hattori, Satoshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 6938419
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is mounted in a vehicle and has a supercharger that is located along an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and driven by a motor, includes a controller which drives the motor to perform supercharging during warm-up of the internal combustion engine, and supercharges a plurality of times intake air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine. Accordingly, the intake air is supercharged a plurality of times during warm-up of the internal combustion engine, so the temperature of the intake air is raised sufficiently to warm up the engine, thus enabling the engine to be warmed up effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihide Okuyama, Chika Kanba, Osamu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6938614
    Abstract: An air intake apparatus for supplying air to an internal combustion engine comprises a hollow enclosure, an air filter and an air compressor which when activated compresses air supplied to the engine. The enclosure houses the air filter and compressor. An engine air supply path through the enclosure passes from an air inlet to the enclosure to an air outlet from the enclosure via the air filter, said enclosure inlet and enclosure outlet defining respectively an upstream end of the air supply path and a downstream end of the air supply path. The enclosure housing is subdivided by a dividing plate which holds the air filter upstream of the air compressor. The dividing plate also has an air inlet feature to allow air to enter an inlet to the air compressor after the air has passed through the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anderton Criddle, Kevin Paul Cutts, Olivier Henri Eugene Desmons, Guy Morgan, Scott John Moore, Guy David Morris, John Charles New, James Justin Tindall
  • Patent number: 6938421
    Abstract: A system for the control of an indirectly heated gas turbine comprising a primary system of controlling the temperature of heated compressed gas entering the expander, and an independent secondary system which includes a safety valve for instantaneous release of heated compressed gas to the atmosphere. The primary system controls system gas temperature and power output by modulating a flow of unheated compressed gas which bypasses the heat exchanger and mixes with the heated gas leaving the heat exchanger to produce a lower temperature gas entering the expander. The secondary system provides a backup means of overspeed prevention, and includes a safety valve to instantly discharge to the atmosphere hot compressed gas upstream of the expander by being responsive to the speed of the turbine. The safety valve includes a frangible membrane clamped between parallel flanges within the ducting, and further includes a dagger assembly for rupturing the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventor: Richard W. Foster-Pegg
  • Patent number: 6935115
    Abstract: A multi-engine power plant, includes a first internal combustion engine module having an air intake and an output shaft for delivering power, a second internal combustion engine module having an air intake and an output shaft for delivering power, and a single throttle body operatively connected to the air intakes of both the first and second engine modules, for controlling a flow of air to the intakes of the engine modules at a common manifold absolute pressure (MAP) of both engine modules during operation of one or both of the engine modules. The power plant also includes a selectively engagable clutch for operatively coupling the output shaft of the second engine module to the output shaft of the first engine module, to thereby produce a common torque output from the first and second engine modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Donald D Anderson
  • Patent number: 6931852
    Abstract: A steam engine increases efficiency and prevents corrosion, abrasion, and the like in a part receiving steam pressure. A heater and a cooler are provided on one side of a U-shaped fluid container, and a piston for output is provided on its other side. The heater heats working fluid to vaporize the fluid. The expansion pressure of steam of the working fluid depresses a fluid level in a first vertical pipe. The liquid component of the working fluid flows from the first vertical pipe into a second vertical pipe, thereby applying pressure to the piston in an upward direction. Then, the liquid component of the working fluid functions as a liquid piston directly receiving the expansion pressure of the steam, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of corrosion, abrasion and the like in the part receiving steam pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Yatsuzuka, Yasumasa Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 6928816
    Abstract: A variable turbocharger apparatus includes a housing, a compressor mounted for rotation in the housing, a turbine mounted for rotation in the housing, a first inlet for enabling air to be conducted to the compressor, an outlet for enabling air from the compressor to be conducted to an engine, a second inlet for enabling exhaust gases from the engine to be conducted to the turbine in order to rotate the turbine, a chamber which surrounds the turbine and which receives the exhaust gases from the second inlet before the exhaust gases are conducted to the turbine, and a bearing assembly for permitting the rotation of the turbine. Fixed vanes are mounted in the chamber which are for accurately directing exhaust gases on to the turbine. A piston is slidable and is positioned between the vanes and the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventor: Malcolm George Leavesley
  • Patent number: 6928977
    Abstract: The present invention is a novel hydraulic/electric, rotating interface for torque producing engines, including internal combustion engines, which enables a rigidly mounted motor to isolate the power/torque producing components from other stationary accessories, to provide advantageous crankshaft/block counter-rotational output, suitable for torque free power applications, torque free propulsion and torque sensitive environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventor: Paul A. Schwam