Patents Examined by Sheldon J Richter
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Patent number: 6928819Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the charging pressure of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) wherein a charging pressure actual value (pvdkds) is tracked to a charging pressure desired value (plsoll). The charging pressure of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) is controlled in dependence upon a characteristic variable of an electric auxiliary charger (5). The electric auxiliary charger (5) coacts with the exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) for compressing the inducted air. In this way, an unnecessary opening of a bypass valve of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) is avoided.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Michael Baeuerle, Carsten Reisinger, Guido Porten
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Patent number: 6925802Abstract: Exemplary methods, devices, and/or systems are suitable for regenerating a plurality of after-treatment units. An exemplary method includes selecting less than all of a plurality of after-treatment units and adjusting air to fuel ratio for less than all of a plurality of combustion chambers of an engine to thereby cause the selected after-treatment units to receive exhaust having hydrocarbon and oxygen concentrations that favor regeneration of the selected after-treatment units. Other exemplary methods, devices and/or systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventor: Steven Don Arnold
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Patent number: 6923000Abstract: A new thermodynamic cycle is disclosed for converting energy from a low temperature stream from an external source into useable energy using a working fluid comprising of a mixture of a low boiling component and a higher boiling component and including a higher pressure circuit and a lower pressure circuit. The cycle is designed to improve the efficiency of the energy extraction process by mixing the liquid stream from the high pressure circuit with the spent low pressure circuit stream forming a lean system that can be condensed at a low pressure. The new thermodynamic process and the system for accomplishing it are especially well-suited for streams from low-temperature geothermal sources.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2004Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Kalex LLCInventor: Alexander I. Kalina
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Patent number: 6922999Abstract: A single-winding multi-stage expander comprises a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll which revolves eccentrically with respect to the fixed scroll so as to pressurize a sealed chamber formed between the two scrolls to drive a crankshaft. A high-temperature pressurized gas is introduced into a first-stage inner division and sent to an external heater. The heated gas is sent back to a second-stage outer division of the expander to significantly increase efficiency thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2003Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Anest Iwata CorporationInventors: Hideyuki Kimura, Yutaka Kenmochi
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Patent number: 6918254Abstract: A two-phase thermodynamic power system includes a capillary device, vapor accumulator, superheater, an inline turbine, a condenser, a liquid pump and a liquid preheater for generating output power as a generator. The capillary device, such as a loop heat pipe or a capillary pumped loop, is coupled to a vapor accumulator, superheater, the inline turbine for generating output power for power generation, liquid pump and liquid preheater. The capillary device receives input heat that is used to change phase of liquid received from the liquid preheater, liquid pump and condenser into vapor for extra heating in the superheater used to then drive the turbine. The power system is well suited for space applications using a radioisotope, active nuclear or solar heat source. The system can use waste heat from various dynamic or static power systems as a heat source and waste heat from spacecraft components such as electronics as a heat source. These heat sources can be used separately or in any combination.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Karl William Baker
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Patent number: 6918250Abstract: A method for regulating the supercharging of an internal combustion engine is provided, which method does not require adaptation offset. A manipulated variable is formed from the deviation between a setpoint value of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine and an actual value of this operating parameter, the manipulated variable having at least one component supplied by an integral action controller. For the integral component, a limit value is specified which is determined from multiple operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. The limit value is adapted by adaptively determining a first of the operating parameters used for determining the limit value as a function of a second operating parameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Michael Baeuerle
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Patent number: 6912853Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for increasing the output of a geothermal steam turbine power plant comprising the steps of: providing a separate, additional flash separator that produces the steam for operating the non-condensable gas ejector; supplying all the geothermal steam produced by the main high-pressure flash separator to a high-pressure geothermal steam turbine; and whereby high-pressure geothermal fluid is supplied to both said separate, additional flash separator and said main high-pressure flash separator from the same production well in a pumped geothermal system.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Nadav Amir
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Patent number: 6910335Abstract: A combined cycle power system is provided which can convert an open combined cycle gas turbine into a reduced or zero emissions power system. The system includes a compressor which compresses air and combusts the air with a hydrocarbon fuel. The products of combustion and the remaining portions of the air form the exhaust which is expanded through a turbine. The turbine drives the compressor and outputs power. The exhaust exits the turbine and then is routed through a heat recovery steam generator. A bottoming cycle portion of the system includes a gas generator which combusts a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen. Water is also entered into the gas generator where it is heated and combined with the products of combustion, before entering a bottoming turbine. The water is then separated and routed back to the gas generator after preheating within the heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Fermin Viteri, Roger E. Anderson
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Patent number: 6910332Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine-generator that converts waste heat into electrical power. Thermal energy is converted to useful work via temperature-pressure amplification of periodic acoustic traveling waves in a compressible working fluid which cause the armature of a linear alternator to reciprocate and produce alternating current electrical energy. An external oscillator initiates reciprocating motion in the armature of a linear alternator. The armature is a combination fluid pump and fluid motor as well as the induction armature of a linear alternator. The pump end of the armature generates an acoustic traveling wave with each cycle of the armature. The traveling wave enters a waveguide-heat exchanger and is amplified in temperature, pressure and propagation velocity by thermal conduction of energy through the wall of the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Inventor: Oscar Lee Fellows
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Patent number: 6910334Abstract: A new thermodynamic cycle is disclosed for converting energy from a low temperature stream, external source into useable energy using a working fluid comprising of a mixture of a low boiling component and a higher boiling component and including a higher pressure circuit and a lower pressure circuit. The cycle is designed to improve the efficiency of the energy extraction process by recirculating a portion of a liquid stream prior to further cooling. The new thermodynamic processes and systems for accomplishing these improved efficiencies are especially well-suited for streams from low-temperature geothermal sources.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Kalex, LLCInventor: Alexander I. Kalina
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Patent number: 6907867Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a supercharger connected to an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and driven by a motor, a bypass passage which is provided for the intake passage in such a manner as to bypass the supercharger, flow amount adjustment device which arbitrarily adjusts a flow amount of air flowing through the bypass passage, and controller which controls the motor and the flow amount adjustment device. The flow amount adjustment device is electrically driven. The controller stops the supercharger from performing supercharging after driving the flow amount adjustment device and starting suction of air via the bypass passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Igarashi, Koichi Akita, Shoji Sasaki, Hiromasa Hashimoto
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Patent number: 6907733Abstract: One of the swing shafts 32 of the nozzle vanes 31 is selected so as to operate as swing drive shaft 33 that projects to the outside. As the swing drive shaft 33 is driven to revolve, all the nozzle vanes 31 are driven to turn by a same angle by way of the driving lever 21 and the coupling ring 18 linked to it. Therefore, it is only the swing drive shaft 33 that projects to the outside, the projecting part can be sealed in a simple and reliable manner to improve the sealing effect and the durability of the variable geometry turbocharger. Additionally, since the rotary motion of the swing drive shaft 33 is directly used to driven the nozzle vanes 31 to swing, the mechanism for transmitting the driving force is simplified.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2002Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiko Nishiyama, Hiroshi Sugito, Takahisa Iino
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Patent number: 6898934Abstract: A method and apparatus provide external blow-off in a turbocharger having an internal recirculation valve configured for attachment to a valve mounting flange defining a recirculation valve inlet port connected in fluid communication with an outlet of a compressor of the turbocharger, and a recirculation valve outlet port connected to an inlet of the compressor, through use of an external blow-off adaptor that is configured for installation between the internal recirculation valve and the valve mounting flange. The external blow-off adapter is configured for producing a desirable sound when the recirculation valve is operating in the recirculation mode with the external blow-off adaptor installed between the recirculation valve and the valve mounting flange.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Ethan Bayer, Jack Kulick, Peter Szadyr
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Patent number: 6895753Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying sealing air to an exhaust turbine (15) that interacts with an internal combustion engine for turbo-compound operation in a vehicle. Exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine are received in an exhaust system having a supercharger turbine (11) and which drives a compressor (13) for the engine combustion air. Residual energy in the exhaust gas flow is recovered via the exhaust turbine (15) for transfer to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust turbine (15) is supported in a bearing housing (32), which is fed with sealing air via a fluid line (36). The exhaust system includes an exhaust brake throttle (16) having an exhaust gas pressure regulator (22) for regulating the exhaust brake pressure. The exhaust gas pressure regulator (22) is connected via a compressed air line (28) to a compressed air source (29, 30), which can be connected in parallel to the bearing housing (32) via a prioritizing valve (35) and a compressed air line (36).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Per Larsson, Nils-Olof HÃ¥kansson
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Patent number: 6895947Abstract: A turbocharger comprising at least one turbine wheel supplied with exhaust gas from a combustion motor. The amount of gas supplied is determined by a fluid control arrangement to which an actuation device is assigned for generating a controlling movement for the fluid control arrangement. In addition, a transmitting mechanism for this movement comprising an adjusting device is presented by which the control movement may be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Rüdiger Allmang, Thomas Wittwer
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Patent number: 6895922Abstract: A rotary engine includes a housing, a shaft, a plurality of main pistons, a plurality of main piston rods, a plurality of following pistons, a plurality of following piston rods, a following piston timing mechanism and a plurality of timing bars.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Inventors: Gloria Snowden, legal representative, Donald Roy Stoughton, deceased
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Patent number: 6895751Abstract: An exemplary controller includes a control valve that includes an electric actuator operatively coupled to a valve stem, a piston operatively coupled to one or more hydraulic fluid paths controlled by the control valve and including a piston shaft, a rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the piston shaft and mechanically isolated from the valve stem and capable of adjusting geometry of the variable geometry turbine, and an electronic sensor capable of sensing an angular position of the rotatable shaft. Various other exemplary systems, methods, devices, etc., are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2004Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Inventor: Christopher Greentree
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Patent number: 6895923Abstract: A rotary engine assembly having a three dimensional and substantially cylindrical shaped outer casing. A plurality of pistons are mounted in circumferentially traversable fashion within the casing, each including a male feature extending from one end and a recess defined within an opposing piston end and within which the male feature seats at selected stages during a rotary combustion cycle associated with the pistons. A valve is operable with each of the pistons and in order to communicate, to the associated piston, at least one air intake port and exhaust port extending through the casings and communicable with the pistons during discrete stages of the combustion cycle. A plurality of ratchet plates are operably engaged to the pistons and traversable therewith, the ratchet plates engaging and actuating in rotary fashion a central crankshaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Inventor: Craig Jones
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Patent number: 6892541Abstract: A vehicle control device is installed in a hybrid vehicle which can run by a driving force of at least one of an engine and a motor, and charges a battery by driving the engine when an amount of electric power stored in a battery which supplies the electric power to a motor becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined lower limit. The vehicle control device preheats the engine, a catalyst and the like when an amount of the electric power stored in the battery becomes equal to a value which is set as an amount of stored electric power that is larger than the lower limit. Thus, since the engine and the like have already been warmed when the engine is started, deterioration of emission can be prevented, and the vehicle can run properly.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoto Suzuki
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Patent number: 6889914Abstract: A unique shroud assembly covers the outlet nozzle of a high pressure hand held discharge device. The shroud assembly has a stationary tubular sleeve spaced generally circumferentially about the outlet nozzle and a pivotable tubular end cuff that is spaced from and encircles the outlet end of the stationary tubular sleeve. The pivotable tubular end cuff is capable of pivoting along the longitudinal axis of the outlet nozzle of the spray device. This enables the operator to hold the outlet nozzle at a plurality of angles with respect to the surface being treated while maintaining the necessary flush contact of the outlet opening of the discharge device with the treated surface. Additionally, the stationary tubular sleeve is provided with a laterally positioned outlet for attachment to a vacuum source to suction expelled fluid carrying loosened debris from the treated surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: NLB Corp.Inventor: Matthew O. Herhold