Patents Examined by Thai-Ba Trieu
  • Patent number: 10036308
    Abstract: In a method for operating a combustion engine in which exhaust gas located in a cylinder during an outlet cycle thereof is ejected from the cylinder and supplied to an exhaust system, a particularly high specific power output of the combustion engine and/or a particularly low specific fuel consumption are to be made possible, in a particularly simple and reliable manner. For this purpose, according to the invention, in a first cycle phase of the outlet cycle the pulse of the exhaust gas pressure wave flowing out of the cylinder is transmitted in whole or in part to the primary side of an exhaust gas charge pump, before the exhaust gas is passed to the exhaust system in a second cycle phase of the outlet cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Arno Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10030869
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body including a sleeve having an inner surface and a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body within the sleeve and defines a pilot air passage within the center body. The pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that define premix passages in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. At least one of the premix tubes includes a fuel port. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a pilot fuel flow path that is defined radially between the pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly and the inner surface of the sleeve and a fuel plenum that is at least partially defined between the sleeve inner surface and an outer surface of the premix tip. The fuel ports provide for fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the premix passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Gibson, Dereck Joseph Ouellet
  • Patent number: 10024230
    Abstract: A controller for an engine system includes an exhaust-driven turbocharger including a compressor and a turbine, an exhaust gas recirculation unit configured to recirculate exhaust gas from a downstream portion of the turbine in an exhaust gas passage to an upstream portion of the compressor in an intake gas passage, and a cooling unit configured to cool the turbine, the controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to set a degree of cooling of the turbine based on a predetermined condition in which a gas temperature at an outlet portion of the compressor is higher than a predetermined temperature and the recirculating of exhaust gas is performed, and set a higher degree of cooling of the turbine when the predetermined condition is satisfied compared to a degree of cooling of the turbine when the predetermined condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akitoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 10024184
    Abstract: A Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) turbine turbocharger comprises a turbine wheel in a housing, and a compressor wheel coupled to the turbine wheel with a main shaft. The turbocharger additionally includes a VTG assembly in the housing, an actuator outside the housing, and an actuation pivot shaft that extends through an opening of the housing and connects the VTG assembly to the actuator. A face seal assembly seals the opening, and includes an inner ring member rotationally fixed on the pivot shaft, a disc member, and a spring seal. The disc member includes a first face that forms a seal with a surface of the housing, and is rotationally fixed to, while being movable axially relative to, the inner ring member. The spring seal seals the inner ring member and the disc member, and applies a seating force against the disc member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Donald M. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 10018163
    Abstract: An EGR valve assembly includes an intake gas passage, an exhaust gas passage, an outlet passage, a movable intake gas flap for changing an effective cross section of the intake gas passage and a movable exhaust gas flap for changing an effective cross section of the exhaust gas passage. The intake gas flap includes at least one channel connecting an inlet port on a upstream-side surface of the flap with an outlet port on a downstream-side surface of the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jesús Vicente Benajes Calvo, José María Desantes Fernández, Pedro Piqueras Cabrera, José Ramón Serrano Cruz, Joaquin De La Morena
  • Patent number: 10012138
    Abstract: An assembly for a two-stage turbocharger can include a first turbocharger stage and a second turbocharger stage where one of the stages includes a boss that includes a bore; an exhaust bypass valve that includes an arm pivotable to orient the exhaust bypass valve in an open state and a closed state; a valve shaft disposed at least in part in the bore and operatively coupled to the exhaust bypass valve where the valve shaft includes an inner end, an outer end and an axial stop disposed between the inner end and the outer end; an outer bushing disposed at least in part in the bore and located axially along the valve shaft; and an inner bushing disposed at least in part in the bore and located axially along the valve shaft between the axial stop and a portion of the arm of the exhaust bypass valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Jeanson, Bassam Chammas, Jean-Luc Perrin
  • Patent number: 10006311
    Abstract: A method of recovering waste heat includes pressurizing a flow of working fluid and transferring heat from a hot gas stream to the flow of working fluid in at least two successively arranged heat transfer sections. At least some of the working fluid is converted to a superheated vapor by the transfer of heat, and passes through an expander to recover useful work. A portion of the flow of working fluid is directed along a branch after having passed through at least one of the heat transfer sections, and bypasses the expander and at least one of the heat transfer sections before being recombined with the working fluid that has passed through the expander. The total flow rate of working fluid can be adjusted to regulate the temperature of the hot gas stream downstream of the heat transfer sections, and the amount of fluid that bypasses along the branch can be adjusted to regulate the temperature of the superheated vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: JianMin Yin, Eric P. Steinbach
  • Patent number: 10006346
    Abstract: A method for operation of an engine. The method includes during a first operating condition, permitting intake airflow through an intake air-supply turbine positioned upstream of a cylinder to drive a generator, the generator coupled to an energy storage device, and inhibiting intake airflow through a motor-driven compressor arranged in parallel flow arrangement with the intake air-supply turbine, the motor driven compressor coupled to a motor coupled to the energy storage device. The method further includes during a second operating condition, permitting intake airflow through the motor-driven compressor while the motor-driven compressor receives rotation input from the motor, and inhibiting intake airflow through the intake air-supply turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Kemmerling, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Vanco Smiljanovski, Frank Kraemer, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Andreas Kuske, Franz J. Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 10006348
    Abstract: A turbocharger device includes: a turbocharger (3); and a turbo controller (35) configured to control a waste-gate valve (31) or a variable-displacement mechanism of an exhaust-gas amount supplied to the turbine to control a boost pressure of the turbocharger, the turbo controller (35) including a control calculation part (44) and a sensor signal input part (45) provided separately and independently from an engine controller (33) and being mounted to a compressor housing at a side of the compressor (23b) of the turbocharger (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Matsuo, Takao Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10001057
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine includes an inline cylinder block with an open exhaust chamber that contains all of the engine's exhaust ports. Exhaust outlets open from the exhaust chamber through opposing sides of the cylinder block. A turbocharger is positioned on each side of the cylinder block and has an inlet closely coupled with a respective exhaust outlet. The exhaust chamber is divided into separate collector sections, each collector section containing the exhaust ports of one or more cylinders, and each turbocharger has a first inlet closely coupled with a first collector section and a second inlet closely coupled with a second collector section. The engine has a cylinder firing sequence which alternates between the cylinders in the first and second collector sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Fuqua
  • Patent number: 10001074
    Abstract: According to first quantity of state control, a rich spike is executed while actuating a WGV so as to decrease turbocharging pressure, and after completion of the rich spike, the WGV is actuated to raise the turbocharging pressure again, the combustion air-fuel ratio is adjusted to the theoretical air-fuel ratio while suppressing an air amount by a throttle so as not to vary shaft torque until the turbocharging pressure is restored, and upon the turbocharging pressure being restored the air amount is increased by the throttle and the combustion air-fuel ratio is returned to a lean air-fuel ratio. According to second quantity of state control, a rich spike is executed while actuating the WGV so as to maintain the turbocharging pressure, and after completion of the rich spike, the air amount is increased by the throttle and the combustion air-fuel ratio is returned to a lean air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Matsumoto, Noriyasu Adachi
  • Patent number: 9995228
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for flowing exhaust gas in an exhaust system of an engine. In one example, a method may include flowing a first portion of exhaust gas to a turbine, from the turbine to at least one aftertreatment device, then from the at least one aftertreatment device to atmosphere, and flowing a second portion of exhaust gas to the at least one aftertreatment device, bypassing the turbine, then from the aftertreatment device to atmosphere, during a second condition. The method may also include, during a second condition, flowing a third portion of exhaust gas to the at least one aftertreatment device, from the at least one aftertreatment device to the turbine, and then from the turbine to atmosphere, and flowing a fourth portion of exhaust gas to the at least one aftertreatment device, and then from the at least one aftertreatment device to atmosphere, bypassing the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9995312
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a turbine (2) which has a turbine housing (3) and which has an exhaust-gas control device (4, 5) arranged in the turbine housing (2); and having an actuator (12; 12?) which is operatively connected to the exhaust-gas control device (4, 5) via a drive train (6), with at least one damping connecting element (8; 8I; 8II; 8III; 8IV; 8V; 8VI) arranged in the drive train (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf Christmann, Bjoern Bergner
  • Patent number: 9988974
    Abstract: An exhaust gas turbocharger with a wastegate port configured to permit some exhaust gas flow to exit a turbine volute upstream of the turbine wheel and enter a bypass channel thereby bypassing the turbine wheel, a valve with a valve head dimensioned to seat on a valve seat and to move between a seated position and an open position, the bypass channel having a sidewall contoured to surround the valve head as the valve head moves between the seated position and the open position, he bypass channel sidewall shaped so that a throat area (At) area between the bypass channel sidewall and valve head gradually increases as the valve head moves between the seated and the open position, such the bypass flow is controlled by the throat area (At) and not the area between the valve head and the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lotz, Brian Handlon, Jason Chekansky
  • Patent number: 9988972
    Abstract: A hybrid intercooler system using multiple cooling media includes a first cooler for cooling air supercharged in a turbocharger using transmission oil, a second cooler for cooling the supercharged air passing through the first cooler using cooling water, and a third cooler for cooling the supercharged air passing through the second cooler using outdoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Dang-Hee Park
  • Patent number: 9982591
    Abstract: An object is to provide an engine in which the exhaust manifolds capable of switching a dynamic pressure supercharging method and a static pressure supercharging method can be easily changed to the exhaust manifolds only of the dynamic pressure supercharging method or only of the static pressure supercharging method without replacing exhaust manifolds themselves. In an engine in which a plurality of independent exhaust manifolds is respectively connected to a supercharger, end parts of the exhaust manifolds are coupled to each other by one or more coupling pipes, an on/off valve that brings the exhaust manifolds into an independent state is provided each of in the coupling pipes, and the coupling pipe is configured such that a part including the on/off valve or the on/off valve is detachable from the exhaust manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Nishioka, Hirofumi Yukawa, Hiroki Tanaka, Kenya Onishi
  • Patent number: 9982673
    Abstract: A supercharger constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure can include a first shaft portion, a coupling assembly, a clutch rotor and a clutch armature. The first shaft portion can be connected to a pulley. The coupling assembly can couple the first shaft portion to a second shaft portion. The first and second shaft portions can be configured to rotate around a common longitudinal axis. The coupling assembly can be configured to provide torsional damping between the first and second shaft portions. The clutch rotor can be mounted to the second shaft portion. The clutch armature can be mounted to a drive shaft and be unconnected to the first and second shaft portion. The clutch rotor and the clutch armature can selectively cooperate in an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the clutch rotor and the clutch armature rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Ouwenga, William Bruce Witherspoon
  • Patent number: 9976474
    Abstract: A process for monitoring turbocharger operation in a machine is disclosed. The machine includes a power source having an intake manifold for supplying the power source with air and a plurality of turbochargers. Each turbocharger includes an air inlet passageway to receive air, a plurality of pressure sensors arranged within the inlet passageway, a compressor configured to pressurize air, an air outlet passageway to direct pressurized air from the compressor to the intake manifold, and an exhaust turbine operably driven by exhaust gas from the power source and coupled to the compressor by a turbine shaft. The process includes monitoring the differential pressure across the air inlet passageway for each turbocharger, comparing the differential pressures for each turbocharger and indicating an anomaly in turbocharger speed when the differential pressure for one turbocharger exceeds the differential pressure for another turbocharger by a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Thompson, Sravan Karri, Michael Joseph Campagna
  • Patent number: 9970294
    Abstract: This is an engine that uses combustion pressures and shock waves to provide moment about an axis on a rotor producing a torque. This engine is a torque driven power plant which can be used for a variety of energy applications. At the core of this engine is a large diameter right cylinder that uses internal vectored combustion to rotate a shaft that can be attached to various mechanisms for use in diverse applications. This engine can be scaled to be various sizes with the functionality of the engine unaffected. This engine has a unique internal rotational-recoil disk (piston head type) that rotates in a circle making it extremely efficient. This engine has directional intake valves and removes the exhaust through the center of the rotation-recoil disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Isaac Erik Anderson
  • Patent number: 9964027
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a controller for a supercharger-equipped internal combustion engine and a control method that can reduce man-hours for data measurement and matching, which are required to perform while the internal combustion engine and the supercharger are combined. In a controller, a target turbine flow rate for realizing a target compressor driving force is calculated; a target wastegate flow rate is calculated based on an exhaust gas flow rate and the target turbine flow rate; a target turbine-upstream pressure is calculated based on a target before/after-turbine pressure ratio for realizing the target compressor driving force and a turbine-downstream pressure; a target gate effective opening area is calculated based on the target wastegate flow rate, the target before/after-turbine pressure ratio, and the target turbine-upstream pressure; then, a gate valve control value is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Hagari, Takuo Watanuki, Michihisa Yokono, Takafumi Nishio