Patents Examined by Thomas Denion
  • Patent number: 9593635
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine, equipped with: an exhaust purification catalyst capable of storing oxygen; a downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor arranged downstream in the direction of flow of exhaust from the exhaust purification catalyst; and an air-fuel ratio control device that controls the air-fuel ratio such that air-fuel ratio of the exhaust flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst reaches a target air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihisa Nakagawa, Shuntaro Okazaki, Yuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9593597
    Abstract: A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. The system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that three distinct condensed working fluid streams are employed at various stages in the waste heat recovery cycle. A first condensed working fluid stream is vaporized by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream, a second condensed working fluid stream absorbs heat from an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream, and a third condensed working fluid stream removes heat directly from a waste heat-containing stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew Alexander Lehar
  • Patent number: 9593465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an implement, in particular an excavator or a machine for material handling, with an element movable via at least one working drive, wherein at least one energy recovery cylinder is provided for energy recovery from the movement of the movable element, which includes a chamber filled with gas. The energy recovery cylinder is equipped with a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-HYDRAULIKBAGGER GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Lavergne, Philipp Egenrieder, Dirk Asam
  • Patent number: 9593583
    Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy for turbine vanes or turbine blades is provided. The nickel-base superalloy has in wt %: C: equal to or greater 0.1; Si: </=0.2; Mn: </=0.2; P: </=0.005; S: </=0.0015; Al: 4.0 to 5.5; B: </=0.03; Co: 5.0 to 9.0; Cr: 18.0 to 22.0; Cu: </=0.1; Fe: </=0.5; Hf: 0.9 to 1.3; Mg: </=0.002; Mo: </=0.5; N: </=0.0015; Nb: </=0.01; O: </=0.0015; Ta: 4.8 to 5.2; Ti: 0.8 to 2.0; W: 1.8 to 2.5; Zr: </=0.01; Ni: balance; and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Paul Mathew Walker, Mick Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9593624
    Abstract: In a waste gate valve, an annular spacer is provided between a washer and an attachment tongue in an axial direction of a valve shaft of a valve. The spacer is made of a graphite material. An annular guard wall is formed on a back surface of the washer in such a way as to surround the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Segawa
  • Patent number: 9593844
    Abstract: A method for operating a waste heat steam generator including an evaporator, an economizer having a number of economizer heating surfaces, and a bypass line connected on the flow medium side in parallel with a number of economizer heating surfaces is provided. The method makes possible higher operational safety and reliability in the control of the waste heat steam generator. For this purpose, a parameter that is characteristic of the thermal energy fed to the waste heat steam generator is used to control or regulate the flow rate of the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9587549
    Abstract: An air gap-insulated exhaust manifold (10) for a supercharged internal combustion engine (1), preferably of a motor vehicle has an engine flange (11) fastening the exhaust manifold to an engine block (2) and a turbine flange (12) fastening the exhaust manifold to a turbine (8) of an exhaust gas turbocharger (7). Two inner pipes (13, 14) lead from an inlet opening, for exhaust gas, adjacent to the engine flange to an outlet opening (18), for exhaust gas, adjacent to the turbine flange. An outer pipe (15) envelopes the two inner pipes, forming an air gap insulation (21), and extends from the engine flange to the turbine flange. A separation partition (16) separates, in the interior space (22) of the outer pipe, two interior spaces (23, 24), in which one each of the two inner pipes is arranged. Reduced wear is achieved with the partition arranged loosely at the turbine flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Wagner, Kresimir Jambrosic, Georg Wirth, Ralf Mohr, Jürgen Häberle
  • Patent number: 9587553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a volume-controlled four-stroke reciprocating internal combustion engine comprising a first cylinder, in which a first piston that is operationally connected to a crankshaft via a first connecting rod, is arranged so as to be displaceable in a reciprocating motion, and at least one second cylinder, in which a second piston that is operationally connected to the crankshaft via a second connecting rod is arranged so as to be displaceable in a reciprocating motion. The engine further includes a fresh air tract for the second cylinder, in which an expansion/compression machine is arranged in the direction of flow of fresh air before a gas exchange inlet valve of the second cylinder, wherein the expansion/compression machine is the first cylinder. The volume-controlled internal combustion engine as per the invention has great potential for saving fuel and thereby for reducing CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hubert Fischer
  • Patent number: 9587565
    Abstract: A butterfly valve includes a body with a bore through which exhaust gas may flow and a valve member rotatably mounted within the bore for restricting flow through the bore. A stop extends into the bore to limit movement of the valve member and prevent the valve member from rotating to a closed position. The stop defines a restricted flow position at which the valve member is positioned between an open position and the closed position. An internal combustion engine utilizing the butterfly valve is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Streutker, Aaron C. Luft
  • Patent number: 9587494
    Abstract: A gas turbine blade includes a hollow-blade-form portion formed by a leading edge on an upstream side of an working fluid of a gas turbine in a flow direction, a trailing edge on a downstream side of the working fluid in the flow direction, and a suction surface and a pressure surface reaching the trailing edge from the leading edge, and a shank portion for supporting the blade form portion. The blade also includes a partition for connecting the suction surface and the pressure surface in a hollow region of the blade-form portion, coolant paths formed by the partition, the suction surface, and the pressure surface, an impingement cooling hole formed in the partition for dividing the first path that is a flow path nearest to the leading edge side among the coolant paths and the second path adjacent to the first path, and first and second converter portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Morisaki, Hisato Tagawa, Manabu Yagi, Yasuhiro Horiuchi, Shinichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9587555
    Abstract: A transmission system for an adjusting device, of a waste gate of an exhaust gas turbocharger, including a four bar coupling mechanism, a driver arm operatively connected to a drive via a transmission, an output arm and a coupler, operatively connecting the driver and output arms, the transmission having a driving gear, assigned to the drive, and a driven gear, assigned to the driver arm and interacting with the driving gear having a rolling curve radius, which changes over the circumference, the driven gear having a rolling curve radius running complementary to the former. The rolling curve radii is selected in an angle of rotation range about the extended position of the coupling to form at least in regions a first transmission ratio and outside the angle of rotation range to form at least a second transmission ratio larger than the first ratio. Also described is an exhaust gas turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Baeuerle, Michael Nau
  • Patent number: 9587597
    Abstract: In the present invention, an internal combustion engine is provided with an in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a secondary air supply device and is formed so as to make possible first catalyst warming control and second catalyst warming control that promote the raising of the temperature of an exhaust gas purification catalyst. The first catalyst warming control comprises control to inject fuel from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve during the compression stroke to form a stratified state, and control to greatly delay ignition timing. The second catalyst warming control comprises control to supply secondary air to an engine exhaust gas passage. The internal combustion engine executes the first catalyst warming control after startup and, after the first catalyst warming control is executed, carries out control (third catalyst warming control) to execute the first catalyst warming control and the second catalyst warming control simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kaneko, Shinichi Mitani, Daisuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 9587546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery system are described. The system may selectively or contemporaneously supply energy from engine exhaust gas to generate electricity or warm the engine. In one example, exhaust gas energy raises a temperature of a heat transfer medium and the heat transfer medium is routed to an engine coolant heat exchanger or an expander via a bypass valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Quazi Ehtesham Hussain, David Richens Brigham, Mark John Jennings
  • Patent number: 9587514
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor, a first turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, a second turbine section in fluid communication with the first turbine section, and a mid-turbine frame located axially between the first turbine section and the second turbine section. The mid-turbine frame includes a first frame case, a second frame case, a vane positioned between the first frame case and the second frame case, and a spoke extending through the vane and connecting the first frame case to the second frame case. The spoke includes a tie rod having a first end connected to the first frame case at a keyed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge I. Farah, Paul K. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9587550
    Abstract: A component of an exhaust system for a combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, has a hollow jacket at least partially surrounding the component. An intermediate space is surrounded by the walls of the hollow jacket and is closable in a pressure-tight manner. The intermediate space is fluidically connected to a vacuum generating device via a vacuum connection line and via a vacuum connection point of the component. With the vacuum generating device, a vacuum can be generated in the intermediate space. Through arrangement of a filler material, such as a support structure and/or of a fiber material and/or of a foam, in the intermediate space the stability of the hollow jacket can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 9581046
    Abstract: In a scroll structure of a centrifugal compressor, there are provided a radius increase arc portion E in which a radius from the center of a scroll 12 to a scroll centroid P of the cross section of the scroll 12 is gradually increased in any range in a circumferential direction from the start of winding of the scroll, and a radius decrease arc portion F in which the radius is gradually decreased toward a scroll end point Z.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hoshi, Isao Tomita, Motoki Ebisu, Hiroshi Suzuki, Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9581145
    Abstract: A variable area fan nozzle comprising an array of hinged rigid petals and a petal actuation system in which the principle of actuation is realized by changes in shape (i.e., deformation) of the actuators rather than by movement of cooperating mechanical parts. Because these actuators have no rotating or sliding mechanical components, wear and associated maintenance are reduced. Each deformable actuator has a portion made of shape memory alloy that has been trained to change shape in a specific manner when heated to a temperature above a transition temperature. In addition, each shape memory alloy actuator is shaped to act as a fairing to reduce aerodynamic drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Christopher T. Jasklowski
  • Patent number: 9581146
    Abstract: A system for heating a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator may include an SMA actuator, a smart susceptor, a plurality of induction coils, and a control module. The SMA actuator may have at least one layup. The SMA actuator may be selectively heated to a transition temperature. The smart susceptor may be in thermal contact with the at least one layup of the SMA actuator. The induction heating coils may be configured to receive an alternating current and generate a magnetic field based on the alternating current. The magnetic field may create an eddy current in at least one of the SMA actuator and the smart susceptor to heat the SMA actuator to the transition temperature. The control module may be configured to drive the alternating current supplied to the induction heating coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Moushumi Shome, Frederick T. Calkins, Stephen R. Amorosi, Flint M. Jamison, Sahrudine Apdalhaliem, Robert James Miller
  • Patent number: 9581130
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating energy from the action of waves in a body of water is provided, the apparatus comprising a flexible planar member for extending across the surface of the body of water, the flexible member having a lower surface which, in use, is in contact with the surface of the water; an energy generating system coupled to a portion of the flexible member, the energy generating system operable to generating energy from the movement of the portion of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Adam Zakheos
  • Patent number: 9581062
    Abstract: A method and system for on-board treatment of an exhaust stream containing CO2 emitted by an internal combustion engine in order to reduce the amount of CO2 discharged into the atmosphere which include: a. a treatment zone, preferably operating in swing mode with at least two subsystems, on board the vehicle containing a capture agent having a predetermined capacity for extracting CO2 from the exhaust stream, each subsystem having a heat exchanger with an inlet for admitting the hot exhaust gas stream for passage in heat relation with the capture agent to release CO2 and regenerate the capture agent, an outlet for passage of a treated, cooled exhaust stream having a reduced CO2 content, and an outlet for CO2 released from the regenerated capture agent; b. a compression zone for reducing the volume of the CO2; and c. a storage zone for the temporary storage of compressed CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Esam Zaki Hamad, Wajdi Issam Al-Sadat