Patents Examined by Thai-Ba Trieu
  • Patent number: 10648403
    Abstract: In order for charge air to be conducted with the lowest possible losses in pressure in a turbocharger including a blow-off valve, a flow-guiding element in an inlet region is designed such that neutral zones are formed at the flow openings. The flow openings recirculate charge air from the pressure side to the suction side when the blow-off valve is opened. The flow-guiding element avoids vortices and therefore losses in pressure in the region of the flow openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Ehrmann, Hans-Peter Jelinek
  • Patent number: 10641163
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine has cylinder groups with plural cylinders and plural exhaust gas turbochargers. Exhaust gas can be fed to at least one first exhaust gas turbocharger from first outlet valves of the cylinders of the first and second cylinder groups via at least one first exhaust manifold. Exhaust gas can be fed to at least one second exhaust gas turbocharger from second outlet valves of cylinders of the first and second cylinder groups via a second exhaust manifold. At low rotational speeds and/or in part load and/or non-steady state operation, exhaust gas can be fed via the first exhaust manifolds that are connected to the first outlet valves per cylinder group to a turbine of the first exhaust gas turbocharger in flows that can be divided in the inflow region of the turbine, while the second exhaust gas turbocharger is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Rothenberger, Erwin Rutschmann, Dietmar Schwarzenthal
  • Patent number: 10641181
    Abstract: An example gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a nacelle having an inner wall providing a bypass duct of a gas turbine engine, and an outer wall; an accessory gearbox is received between the inner wall and the outer wall of the nacelle; and an accessory drive of the accessory gearbox is configured to rotate about an accessory drive axis that is transverse to a central axis of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Robert L. Gukeisen, Claude Mercier
  • Patent number: 10634075
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation control method of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including: a turbo supercharger; an exhaust gas recirculation passage communicating an exhaust passage with an intake passage at a part upstream of a compressor of the turbo supercharger; an exhaust gas recirculating amount control valve disposed in the exhaust gas recirculation passage; a differential pressure generating valve disposed upstream of a merging portion of fresh air gas and exhaust gas in the intake passage; and a controller adapted to control an opening of the exhaust gas recirculation amount control valve and an opening of the differential pressure generating valve, wherein in the method, the controller cooperatively controls the opening of the exhaust gas recirculation amount control valve and the opening of the differential pressure generating valve to make an exhaust gas recirculation ratio change to a target exhaust gas recirculation ratio at a change rate that prevents abnormal comb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kobara, Takayuki Hamamoto, Kazuhiro Terayama
  • Patent number: 10634032
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, an injection system disposed to inject reductant into the exhaust pipe upstream of the SCR device. A single ammonia sensor is disposed to monitor an exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A controller is in communication with the single ammonia sensor and the internal combustion engine and operatively is connected to the injection system. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor, via the single ammonia sensor, a magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device and determine NOx efficiency of the SCR device based upon the magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A fault is detected in the SCR device based upon the NOx efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Raffaello Ardanese
  • Patent number: 10626768
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine provided with a heat and hydrogen generation device (50) and an exhaust purification catalyst (14) comprised of the three way catalyst. Heat and hydrogen generated in the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) is fed to the exhaust purification catalyst (14). When an air-fuel ratio of the air and fuel made to burn in the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) is made a predetermined target set air-fuel ratio, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas discharged from the engine is controlled to the target adjusted air-fuel ratio required for making the air-fuel ratio of the gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (14) the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10626781
    Abstract: A downstream-side heat insulating material which is provided at a side face of a GPF which is positioned on a downstream side, in an exhaust-gas flowing direction, of plural in-line arranged catalysts has a first opening portion and a second opening portion which are provided for attaching supporting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Kuramashi, Keishi Kitabatake, Tamotsu Takamure, Toshiaki Kamo
  • Patent number: 10619559
    Abstract: The present invention controls the amount of air fed to the intake of a supercharged internal-combustion engine. The engine includes two exhaust gas outlets (32, 36) each connected to an exhaust manifold (30, 34) of a group of at least one cylinder (121, 122, 123, 124), a turbocharger with a dual-inlet (46, 48) turbine (40) connected to the exhaust gas outlets, and to an outside air compressor (44), and a duct (64) for partial transfer of the compressed air from the compressor to the turbine inlets. Two branches (70, 72) of the partial transfer duct, are connected to the turbine inlets. Each branch carries proportional throttle (74, 76), and the compressed air circulation in the branches is controlled during transient operation phases according to strategies applied to the proportioned throttle valves and determined in accordance with the stabilized phase characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Olivier Baudrand, Thierry Colliou, Jean-Marc Zaccardi
  • Patent number: 10598085
    Abstract: A hybrid turbocharger includes a first power conversion unit to convert direct-current power into alternating-current power to be output to a generator motor, a smoothing capacitor between direct-current buses, and a control unit that controls the first power conversion unit so as to cause actual generator motor speed to comply with an engine speed command of the generator motor input from an upstream controller during a motoring operation of the generator motor. The control unit changes the engine speed command to a value which is equal to or greater than the actual generator motor speed if the engine speed command of the generator motor is less than the actual generator motor speed and a direct-current bus voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value during the motoring operation. Accordingly, the direct-current bus voltage can be prevented from increasing during the motoring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Musashi Sakamoto, Yoshihisa Ono, Keiichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10590839
    Abstract: A hybrid turbocharger includes a first power conversion unit to convert direct-current power into alternating-current power to be output to a generator motor, a smoothing capacitor between direct-current buses, and a control unit that controls the first power conversion unit so as to cause actual generator motor speed to comply with an engine speed command of the generator motor input from an upstream controller during a motoring operation of the generator motor. The control unit changes the engine speed command to a value which is equal to or greater than the actual generator motor speed if the engine speed command of the generator motor is less than the actual generator motor speed and a direct-current bus voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value during the motoring operation. Accordingly, the direct-current bus voltage can be prevented from increasing during the motoring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Musashi Sakamoto, Yoshihisa Ono, Keiichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10578032
    Abstract: An electronic control unit of an internal combustion engine is configured to control the fuel injection valve and to control a spark plug if necessary such that fuel is combusted by pre-mixture compression ignition combustion or flame propagation combustion. The electronic control unit is configured to perform homogeneous combustion in a flame ignition operation range when switching failure has not occurred, the homogeneous combustion being combustion in which fuel homogeneously diffused into the combustion chamber is ignited using the spark plug and is combusted by flame propagation combustion. The electronic control unit is configured to perform spray-guided stratified combustion in a second operation range when the switching failure has occurred, the spray-guided stratified combustion being combustion in which fuel in the fuel injection path is ignited using the spark plug and is combusted by the flame propagation combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Okada, Fumitsugu Tsuru
  • Patent number: 10570822
    Abstract: A turbocharger system includes a manifold system that maintains separation between flow paths of different manifold arrangements. One manifold arrangement directs flow from a first group of combustion chambers to a first volute passage of a turbine section of a turbocharger. Another manifold arrangement directs flow from a second group of combustion chambers to a second volute passage of the turbine section of the turbocharger. The system also provides selective variation of the available volume for exhaust flow through the manifold arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: GARRETT TRANSPORTATION I INC.
    Inventor: Darius Mehta
  • Patent number: 10570814
    Abstract: A waste-gate valve is for opening and closing a bypass passage which bypasses an exhaust turbine of a turbocharger, and includes: a valve body disposed in the bypass passage; an open-close lever having a first insertion hole into which a valve shaft of the valve body is inserted, and being configured to open and close the bypass passage by moving the valve body; and a washer having a second insertion hole which is positioned closer to a tip of the valve shaft than the first insertion hole and into which the valve shaft is inserted, the washer being fixed to the valve shaft. The washer has a bend portion bended along an outer shape of the open-close lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Onogi, Yuta Ishii
  • Patent number: 10570778
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a coupling system of a turbocharger and emissions control device of a vehicle. In one example, the coupling system may include a chamfer on one or more of the flanges of a turbine housing and a catalyst housing to decrease a distance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Jakobcic, Sami Siddiqui, Rodolfo Palma, Sr., Bhageerath Bogi, Xiankai Song
  • Patent number: 10570810
    Abstract: A vehicle forced-induction device includes a first exhaust turbine type forced-induction unit and a second exhaust turbine type forced-induction unit. The first forced-induction unit includes an outlet pipe. The outlet pipe includes a first tubular portion and an annular first flange. The second forced-induction unit includes an inlet pipe. The inlet pipe includes a second tubular portion and an annular second flange. The forced-induction device includes a fastener that includes an annular groove. The annular groove has a shape in which a width of the annular groove decreases toward a groove bottom. The fastener is wound around the first and second flanges along a circumference of the first and the second flanges, thereby housing the first and second flanges in the annular groove. The fastener fastens the first and second flanges to urge the first and second flanges toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN TAKAOKA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tsukiyama, Haruto Ura, Tsuyoshi Uesugi, Daisuke Terui, Akihiro Hosono, Ryuta Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 10570739
    Abstract: A circle-ellipse engine includes a stationary circular outer housing having a fixed elliptical inner cam surface, and a separate internal round rotor partitioned into equal segments that are populated by identical movable radial vanes. During rotation, the end of the vanes are positioned a precise, constant distance from the elliptical inner cam surface of the housing. During rotation, a variable height cavity is created representing the difference between the major and minor axes of the elliptical inner cam surface and the rotor face. During each rotation, aspirated air is continuously drawn into combustion chambers, compressed, mixed with fuel, ignited, and exhaust gas products are expelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Robert A Grisar
  • Patent number: 10567938
    Abstract: A ruggedized engine control module (ECU) system includes a plugin-pod, a connector configured to connect the plugin-pod to a connector of an ECU, and signal processing circuitry. The ruggedized ECU system further includes a ruggedized enclosure for the connector and the signal processing circuitry. The ruggedized enclosure is configured to mount the plugin-pod to the ECU. The connection circuit includes signal processing circuitry configured to receive signals from at least one of the connectors, process the signals, and output the processed signals. The ruggedized ECU is configured to dissipate heat from the signal processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Harshbarger, Nikhil Pandey, Joseph L. Gahimer
  • Patent number: 10550749
    Abstract: An exhaust gas temperature sensor diagnostic system includes an exhaust gas temperature sensor, a controller and a storage device. The controller is programmed to wakeup after a predetermined time after engine shutdown, determine a temperature of the sensor and ambient temperature, calculate a difference in the temperature of the sensor after wakeup to a temperature of the sensor at engine shutdown, determine an estimated temperature of the sensor based on the ambient temperature and the predetermined time, add the difference in the temperature of the sensor at wakeup to the estimated temperature to determine a compensated estimated sensor reading, determine a difference between the compensated estimated sensor reading and a corrected sensor reading, compare the difference between the compensated estimated sensor reading and a corrected sensor reading to a threshold to determine whether the sensor is operating properly. The storage device is configured to store information related to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Yichao Guo
  • Patent number: 10550737
    Abstract: A high efficiency uniflow steam engine with automatic inlet and exhaust valves rather than camshaft operated valves includes an electromagnet and cooperating armature that actuates a cutoff control valve for closing a steam inlet valve at any time selected to stop the flow of steam to the cylinder. Approaching the end of the exhaust stroke typically 0.12 inch before TDC the cylinder is sealed thereby compressing the remaining residual steam down to a minute clearance approaching zero, for example, 0.020 inch to raise cylinder steam pressure enough to open the steam inlet valve without physical contact between the piston and the steam inlet valve thereby eliminating tappet noise, shock and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Thermal Power Recovery LLC
    Inventor: James V. Harmon, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10544733
    Abstract: A compound engine system includes a rotary engine with rotating chambers, a compressor section in successive communication with the rotating chambers, and a turbine section in successive communication with the rotating chambers. The turbine section has an output shaft. The output shaft and the engine shaft are drivingly engaged to each other and wherein the turbine section has a power output corresponding to from 20% to 35% of a total power output of the compound engine system. A method of compounding power in a compound engine system is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Andre Julien