Patents Examined by Thai-Ba Trieu
  • Patent number: 11008981
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed that include a divided exhaust engine with at least one pair of primary EGR cylinders and a plurality of pairs of non-primary EGR cylinders. The pair of primary EGR cylinders can be connected to an intake with an EGR system that lacks an EGR cooler. In another embodiment, the cylinder pairs include exhaust flow paths that join in the cylinder head to form a common exhaust outlet for each cylinder pair in the cylinder head that is connected directly to the EGR system or to the exhaust system without an exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Samuel C. Geckler, Hongfeng H. Wang
  • Patent number: 11002205
    Abstract: A regeneration control system for an oxidation catalyst in an internal combustion engine includes a temperature sensor to produce a temperature signal indicative of an exhaust inlet temperature that is below a regeneration temperature for accumulated hydrocarbons on the oxidation catalyst, an electrically actuated boost leakage valve, and a regeneration control unit. The regeneration control unit commands an adjustment to the position of the electrically actuated boost leakage valve to increase leaked boost to increase exhaust temperature to the regeneration temperature by way of increased air-fuel ratio. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Kominkiewicz, Brock Davis, James Mutti
  • Patent number: 11002166
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for opportunistically mitigating an intermittent degradation of an active exhaust valve. In one example, a method may include differentiating between a permanent degradation of the active exhaust valve and an intermittent degradation of the active exhaust valve and adjusting actuation of the valve based on a vehicle operating condition and a road condition to mitigate the intermittent degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar Ravi, Sumanth Reddy Dadam
  • Patent number: 10995633
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes: a cylindrical fan case; a fan rotatably disposed in the fan case and including a central member and multiple fan blades arranged on an outer circumference of the central member such that the fan blades are spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction; an annular member disposed to surround the fan; and an elastic support device that supports the annular member to the fan case radially elastically such that a predetermined clearance is radially defined between the annular member and tips of the fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio Kusakabe
  • Patent number: 10982591
    Abstract: A power unit for use with an internal combustion engine including a compressor housing, a compressor wheel positioned within and rotatable with respect to the compressor housing, a shaft coupled to the compressor wheel and rotatable together therewith, a motor assembly in operable communication with the shaft, and a controller in operable communication with the motor assembly. Where the controller is adjustable between a first mode of operation, in which the motor assembly applies torque to the shaft in a first direction of rotation, and a second mode of operation, in which the motor assembly unit applies torque to the shaft in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Pratir Punjani, Joseph R. Gonsowski, Brian Bratvold
  • Patent number: 10975751
    Abstract: A method for estimating a volume of thawed liquid in a motor vehicle tank, wherein the following operations are executed at regular time intervals: obtaining a temperature of the ambient air outside the tank using a thermometer; determining, according to said temperature outside the tank and by a first pre-established relation, a thermal energy transfer between the contents of the tank and the outside environment; determining, as a function of the power produced by a heating element, and by a second pre-established relation, a thermal energy transfer between the heating element and the contents of the tank; determining, as a function of the energy transfers, and by a third pre-established relation, an amount of thawed or refrozen liquid, during said time interval; the amounts of thawed and refrozen liquid are added during the preceding consecutive time intervals to estimate a volume of thawed liquid present in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Rolland, Sebastien Decamp, Mamadou Saliou Balde
  • Patent number: 10975729
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: an engine case; an engine rotation shaft rotatably supported by the engine case via a bearing member; a first flange extending from the engine case to define a first annular contact surface facing in an axial direction; and a bearing case having an inner end supporting the bearing member and a second flange defining a second annular contact surface that coaxially contacts the first annular contact surface. The second flange is joined to the first flange so as to be movable radially relative to the first flange when applied with a load greater than or equal to a predetermined value in a direction to move the second flange radially relative to the first flange. An outer circumferential edge of one of the first and second flanges is provided with an opposing piece opposing an outer circumferential edge of the other via a radial gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio Kusakabe
  • Patent number: 10974783
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly for a vehicle. The exhaust assembly includes a header assembly including one or more head pipes, and a bridge with a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end. The first and second ends are secured to the header assembly. The exhaust assembly further includes a shield assembly including a shield shaped to cover a portion of the header assembly and a retainer secured to the shield and supported by the bridge by a planar clamp joint therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lehrbaum, Scott Nash, David M. Pittman, Michael Welliver, Gary Zinser
  • Patent number: 10975697
    Abstract: In some embodiments the disclosure is directed to a closed-loop piston engine system using a recirculating carbon dioxide (CO2) system with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a working fluid. The closed-loop piston engine system may include a scCO2 injector; a superheating nozzle region; a first valve; a second valve; a piston moving in the cylinder and coupled with a crankshaft, the piston being driven toward a centerline of the crankshaft during a power stroke using a connecting rod and causing the crankshaft to rotate thereby causing one power stroke per crankshaft rotation and thereby producing two power strokes for every single power stroke that a similar engine would produce if run as a hydrocarbon fuel powered internal combustion engine. The recirculating CO2 system recirculates the used carbon dioxide and there are no carbon dioxide emissions from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Karl Peter Mulligan
  • Patent number: 10968804
    Abstract: A controller calculates a predicted value of the exhaust pressure between a catalyst and a filter for a case in which engine fuel containing no manganese is used continuously. Also, the controller calculates a correlation value proportional to the amount of heat received by the catalyst when the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to the adhesion temperature of manganese oxide. Further, the controller determines that there is a removal requirement for removing manganese oxide from the catalyst when the difference between the predicted value and the detected pressure of the exhaust pressure between the catalyst and the filter is greater than a specified determination value, and the correlation value is greater than or equal to a specified determination value. The controller executes the removal process by performing fuel amount increase control when it is determined that there is a removal requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kanada
  • Patent number: 10968824
    Abstract: A compound cycle engine having an output shaft; at least two rotary units each defining an internal combustion engine, a first stage turbine, and a turbocharger is discussed. The first stage turbine includes a rotor in driving engagement with the output shaft between two of the rotary units. The exhaust port of each rotary unit is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first stage turbine upstream of its rotor. The outlet of the compressor of the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the inlet port of each rotary unit. The inlet of the second stage turbine of the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first stage turbine downstream of its rotor. The first stage turbine has a lower reaction ratio than that of the second stage turbine. A method of compounding at least two rotary engines is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sebastien Bolduc, Mike Fontaine, Luc Landry, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 10962019
    Abstract: Methods are provided for identifying degradation in components of a compressor recirculation valve (CRV). One method may include inferring degradation of the CRV based on adaptation of a compressor surge line outside an expected range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Baitao Xiao, Hamid-Reza Ossareh
  • Patent number: 10961901
    Abstract: A turbine for an exhaust-gas turbocharger has a turbine housing formed with two volutes through which an exhaust gas can flow and which are separated by a separating wall. Only a single wastegate valve is provided for both volutes. The wastegate valve is a linear valve with a linear valve element. The linear valve element is received in the separating wall and is movably guided in its axial direction in the separating wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Sparrer
  • Patent number: 10961903
    Abstract: A supercharging system includes: a first supercharger including a first compressor for compressing air to be supplied to an engine and a motor for driving the first compressor; a leakage current measuring part for measuring a leakage current of the motor; and a first controller for controlling the first supercharger. The first controller includes a motor control part configured to, when a measurement result by the leakage current measuring part is not less than a first threshold, set an upper limit value of an output command value for the motor to be lower than when the measurement result is less than the first threshold, and to control an output of the motor within a range which does not exceed the upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Hiroyoshi Kubo, Mitsufumi Goto, Musashi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10954882
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder head having an integrated exhaust manifold having exhaust ducts connected to a secondary air system's distributor block via its supply ducts for supplying ambient air through an inlet as secondary air into the exhaust manifold. Each supply duct having a valve assembly having a closure flap pivotable about a pivot axis at a distance from its the center of mass. The closure flap closing due to the influence of gravity when there is no pressure difference between the exhaust manifold and the secondary air system and opening automatically due to a relative overpressure in the gas pressure on the side of the secondary air system in relation to the gas pressure on the side of the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Peter Kawelke
  • Patent number: 10947932
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting operation of a split exhaust engine system based on a total flow of gases through a scavenge exhaust gas recirculation system of the split exhaust engine system. In one example, a method may include setting a cam timing correction based on a difference between a first value and a second value of a flow through an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage, the first value determined based on a first parameter set including a cylinder valve overlap area and the second value determined based on a second parameter set not including the cylinder valve overlap area, and operating at least one of an intake cam and an exhaust cam at a corrected timing using the cam timing correction. In this way, the flow through the EGR passage may be adjusted even without active control of a valve coupled in the EGR passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Paul Madison
  • Patent number: 10947891
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combustion engine comprising a first exhaust gas channel and a separate second exhaust gas channel each connected to at least one cylinder, wherein the first exhaust gas channel is further connected to a turbocharger and the second exhaust gas channel is configured to bypass the turbocharger, and a throttling valve in the second exhaust gas channel configured to control an exhaust gas pressure in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Timo Janhunen
  • Patent number: 10947931
    Abstract: A product may include a bearing housing in which a shaft may be supported by a bearing so that it may rotate. A compressor wheel may be disposed on the shaft. A compressor cover may be connected with the bearing housing, which may form a compressor body and may define a chamber within which the compressor wheel may rotate. A diffuser may extend radially outward from the chamber and may receive gas from the compressor wheel. An inlet may be provided to the compressor body, which may receive a supply of exhaust gas. An EGR distribution cavity may be defined within the compressor body and may extend around the shaft. An EGR inlet channel may extend into the bearing housing from the inlet to the EGR distribution cavity. An EGR passage may extend from the EGR distribution cavity to the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Powell McHenry, Gordon Clark Jenks, Robert Malcolm Wallace
  • Patent number: 10947860
    Abstract: An actuator actuates a movable part of a turbocharger including a turbine housing for accommodating a turbine driven by exhaust, and a compressor housing for accommodating a compressor which is disposed on the same axis as the turbine and which pressure-feeds intake air. The actuator has a rod of which one end side is coupled by a link to the movable part, a case having a bearing part that slidably and axially supports the other end side of the rod, a boot which covers the sliding part of the rod and the bearing part and of which at least part of the outer peripheral surface faces the outer peripheral surface of the turbine housing, and a thermal shield member disposed between the turbine housing and the boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Iori Kurata
  • Patent number: 10934929
    Abstract: A wastegate is provided in an exhaust bypass passage that allows exhaust gas to bypass a turbine wheel of an exhaust turbine-type forced-induction device. A required boost pressure is set in accordance with a running state of an engine. A controller is configured to control a drive force of the wastegate to a magnitude that achieves the required boost pressure when the required boost pressure is higher than a preset pressure, and control the drive force to a magnitude that achieves a higher boost pressure than the required boost pressure when the required boost pressure is less than or equal to the preset pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshizaki, Masahiro Inoue, Koji Honda