Patents Examined by Thomas Denion
  • Patent number: 9404382
    Abstract: A safety operation method includes detecting a steam pressure inside a high-pressure casing of the high-pressure part and a steam pressure inside a low-pressure casing of the low-pressure part; obtaining a low-pressure casing limit pressure as a reference corresponding to a pressure of the high-pressure casing in each detection, on a basis of a pressure correlation line expressing a prescribed special relation between preset high-pressure casing pressure and low-pressure casing pressure of the extraction steam turbine; comparing the low-pressure casing limit pressure with the detected pressure of the low-pressure casing; and forcibly throttling an opening of the main steam control valve to reduce the flow rate of steam flowing into the high-pressure part, in a state in which the extraction control valves continue controlling an operation of the extraction steam pressure, when the detected pressure of the low-pressure casing is judged to be higher than the low-pressure casing limit pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Kato
  • Patent number: 9404397
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a position sensor, a current supply module, and a mode indicator module. The position sensor includes: an electromagnet (EM) that generates a magnetic field proximate to one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an engine; and a Hall-effect sensor that generates a position signal indicating a position of the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve based on the magnetic field. The current supply module supplies current to the EM. The mode indicator module indicates whether the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is being actuated in a low lift mode or a high lift mode based on the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Sanjeev M. Naik, Donovan L. Dibble
  • Patent number: 9404406
    Abstract: A catalyst for use in a process for purifying exhaust gas from a gasoline engine of the fuel-direct-injection type that varies, in response to changes in the air-fuel ratio, between a first exhaust-gas state featured by an air-fuel ratio in the vicinity of the stoichiometrical air-fuel ratio, and a second exhaust-gas state that forms a more oxidizing, low-temperature atmosphere and that is featured by an air-fuel ratio greater than the stoichiometrical air-fuel ratio, the catalyst being obtained by causing a noble metal and a rare-earth oxide and/or a transition metal to be carried by or to be mixed with a fire-resistant inorganic oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: UMICORE SHOKUBAI JAPAN CO., LTD., UMICORE SHOKUBAI USA INC.
    Inventors: Masao Hori, Akihisa Okumura, Makoto Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9404379
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a gas turbine shroud assembly. The shroud assembly may include a shroud structure that defines a first cooling chamber and a second cooling chamber. The shroud assembly may also include a first impingement plate disposed within the first cooling chamber and a second impingement plate disposed within the second cooling chamber. Further, the shroud assembly may include one or more cooling channels formed within the shroud structure. The cooling channels may be configured to connect the first cooling chamber with the second cooling chamber. The shroud assembly may also include a flow of cooling air in communication with the first cooling chamber. In this manner, the flow of cooling air may flow from the first cooling chamber to the second cooling chamber by way of the one or more cooling channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Niraj K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 9404480
    Abstract: A closed-loop, solid-state system generates electricity from geothermal heat from a well by flow of heat, without needing large quantities of water to conduct heat from the ground. The present invention contemplates uses for depleted oil or gas wells and newly drilled wells to generate electricity in an environmentally-friendly method. Geothermal heat is conducted from the Earth to a heat exchanging element to heat the contents of pipes. The pipes are insulated between the bottom of the well and the surface to minimize heat dissipation as the heated contents of the pipes travel to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Pardev, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Parrella
  • Patent number: 9404411
    Abstract: A turbocharger system is provided. The turbocharger system includes a turbine positioned downstream of a combustion chamber and a turbine bypass conduit in fluidic communication with a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet. The turbocharger system further includes a wastegate positioned in the turbine bypass conduit, a wastegate actuator coupled to the wastegate adjusting a position of the wastegate, and an air-cooled solenoid valve coupled to wastegate actuator adjusting a position of the wastegate actuator, the air-cooled solenoid valve receiving cooling airflow from an intake conduit positioned upstream of a compressor mechanically coupled to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Matthews
  • Patent number: 9404398
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve timing device is provided and includes a cam sprocket connected with a camshaft having a plurality of cams to rotate the camshaft and an electric variable valve timing mechanism connected with the cam sprocket, and driven by an electric motor. A chain cover protects the cam sprocket and a chain system from foreign substances and an electric variable valve timing mechanism cover protects the electric variable valve timing mechanism from foreign substances. A seal ring partitions an internal space between the electric variable valve timing mechanism and the electric variable valve timing mechanism cover. In addition, a pressure maintaining device is mounted within the electric variable valve timing mechanism cover to maintain pressure formed within the internal space of the electric variable valve timing mechanism cover at about atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Woo Lee, Hyunjin Kang, Jae-Chun Kim, Hong Kil Baek, Gang Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9399937
    Abstract: An operating method of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including at least a particulate filter for retaining soot from the exhaust gas of an engine and a deNOx catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas of the engine is provided. Operation regimes of the particulate filter and of the deNOx catalytic converter are synchronized with respect to each other for performing regeneration of the particulate filter while the catalytic converter provides a nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency above a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Christer Alm, Andreas Hinz, Hans Bernler, Carl Landberg
  • Patent number: 9399921
    Abstract: A hub for mounting propeller blades has a plurality of mount locations for receiving propeller blades at a radially outer location. The hub has a piloting diameter centered on a center axis. The hub has a plurality of openings to receive a drive member for transmitting rotation/torque from an adapter. There are reliefs cut into the piloting diameter at locations circumferentially aligned with the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Ventura, Thomas G. Corley
  • Patent number: 9399940
    Abstract: A method pertaining to an SCR system for cleaning of exhaust gases from an engine including a dosing unit (250) to supply a reducing agent to an exhaust duct (240): Determining (s340) whether there is an undesired temperature level of the dosing unit (250). If one is found, removing (s360) warmed reducing agent from the dosing unit (250) and supplying it to the exhaust duct (240). Calculating (s350) and removing an amount of reducing agent based on a prevailing temperature of the dosing unit (250), or removing warmed reducing agent. Also a computer program product containing program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) for implementing the method. Also a device of an SCR system and a motor vehicle (100) which is equipped with the device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Andreas Liljestrand, Per Bremberg, Daniel Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 9399928
    Abstract: A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the low-pressure passage (VW1 to VW2), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the low-pressure preheater passage (VW1 to VW2) into the condensate line that contacts the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Ewald Kitzmann, Volker Schüle, Julia Heintz, Benjamin Bond
  • Patent number: 9394902
    Abstract: A fluid rotary machine includes first and second bodies and that are rotatable relative to each other. The second body is inside the first body to define a working fluid space there between. In addition, the machine includes a plurality of gates. Each gate 18 is supported by the first body and is movable in a radial direction with respect to the first and second bodies to extend into and retract from the working fluid space. The machine also includes a magnetic gate control system configured to exert control of the motion and/or position of the gates in the radial direction. The magnetic gate control system is a dispersed system including magnets or magnets and components made of ferromagnetic materials. The magnetic gate control system may be dispersed between the gates, and one or both of the bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GREYSTONE TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Daryl Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9393648
    Abstract: A Moineau style stator includes a stator tube having a plurality of rigid helical lobes formed on an inner surface thereof. The helical lobes define a major internal tube diameter that is greater than a pass through diameter of the tube such that the major diameter undercuts the pass through diameter of the tube. A major liner diameter may also be less than the pass through diameter so as to provide a suitable interference fit between rotor and stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Lance D. Underwood, William D. Murray, Thomas K. Washburn
  • Patent number: 9394817
    Abstract: In a working vehicle, an exhaust gas aftertreatment device is provided in an engine compartment that is adjacent to a cooling fan through which cooling air is supplied to a heat exchanger. The exhaust gas aftertreatment device includes a selective catalytic reduction device in which ammonia obtained from a urea aqueous solution is used as a reduction-causing agent. A urea aqueous solution pipe through which the urea aqueous solution is supplied is laid to the selective catalytic reduction device through the engine compartment. In the engine compartment, a pipeline-forming member having pipelines in which the urea aqueous solution pipe is installed. The cooling air sucked by a cooling fan flows into the pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Tsutsumi, Hirofumi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9394809
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve for a cam phaser including a valve housing with a longitudinal axis and a valve piston that is axially moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve piston opens and closes a first operating connection of the valve housing and a second operating connection of the valve housing, wherein the first operating connection and the second operating connection are axially offset from one another; and a supply connection of the valve housing which is used for supplying the hydraulic valve with a hydraulic fluid fed by a feed device, wherein the hydraulic valve is configured to be flowed through by the hydraulic fluid on different paths controlled by a flow permeable channel system of the valve piston, and wherein a check valve opening and closing an inflow channel is arranged in the hydraulic valve in the inflow channel of the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hilite Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Gruber, Michael Oppel, Juergen Goll
  • Patent number: 9394876
    Abstract: An energy generating device utilizing mechanical vibration power is provided. The energy generating device includes a first body for reciprocating according to vibration motions; an anchored second body; a rack coupled to one of the first body and the anchored second body; a gear assembly engaged with the rack and coupled to the other one of the first body and the anchored second body such that the gear assembly drives a generator via a rotational movement in a single direction according to each of upward and downward movement of the rack relative to the gear assembly; and the generator engaged with the gear assembly for receiving the rotational movement output from the gear assembly and outputting a direct current according to the rotational input from the gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Lei Zuo, Gopinath Reddy Penamalli, John Wang, Rui He Zheng, Xiao Hui Lei, Jorge F. Lam-Ki, Zhongjie Li, Teng Lin
  • Patent number: 9394793
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element has an airfoil. The airfoil has an inboard end, an outboard end, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a suction side. A span between the inboard and an outboard end is 1.4-1.6 inch. A chord length at 50% span is 0.9-1.4 inch. At least three of the following resonance frequencies are present. A first mode resonance frequency is 2591.5±10% Hz. A second mode resonance frequency is 4675.2±10% Hz. A third mode resonance frequency is 7892.9±10% Hz. A fourth mode resonance frequency is 10098.2±10% Hz. A fifth mode resonance frequency is 14808.2±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan C. Atkins, Robert J. Esteve, Richard A. Lomenzo, Jr., David P. Houston
  • Patent number: 9394851
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a housing, a compression chamber disposed in the housing and having at least a first interface operable to vary a volume of the compression chamber, an expansion chamber disposed in the housing and having a second interface operable to vary a volume of at least the expansion chamber, and a thermal regenerator in fluid communication with each of the compression chamber and the expansion chamber. The thermal regenerator is operable to alternatively receive thermal energy from gas flowing in a first direction through the regenerator and to deliver the thermal energy to gas flowing in a direction opposite to the first direction through the regenerator. The compression chamber, the expansion chamber, and the regenerator together define a working volume for containing a pressurized working gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Etalim Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Walter Steiner, Briac Medard de Chardon, Takao Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 9388771
    Abstract: In an intake controller for an internal combustion engine, an opening controlling unit performs, when a light load operation is performed during a manual forced regeneration process of a diesel particulate filter which reduces an amount of particulate matter included in exhaust gas exhausted from the internal combustion engine, control to form a bypass passage by setting an open-close valve to a fully closed state and a variable turbo nozzle to a fully closed state and which performs, when an amount of the injected fuel detected by a fuel injection amount detecting unit becomes zero, control to set the open-close valve from the fully closed state to a fully opened state and the variable turbo nozzle from the fully closed state to a fully opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Murakami, Yoshiki Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 9388728
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for diagnosing gain rationality of an NOx sensor that is downstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. Sensor diagnostics are performed while maintaining reductant dosing to the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Archana Chandrasekaran, Xiao Lin