Patents by Inventor Andrew Atkins
Andrew Atkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11933126Abstract: A ball dropping tool includes an outer and inner body, side bore, ball and an actuator. The outer body has an axial bore extending between a first and second end of the outer body and forming a flow path. The inner body forms a bypass passage extending between a first and second end of the inner body. The side bore is defined by the inner body and is disposed at an angle relative to the axial bore of the outer body. The bypass passage is disposed in a portion of the flow path and is in communication with the side bore. The ball is disposed within the side bore. The actuator, disposed within the outer body, is movable between a retaining position wherein the ball is retained within the side bore and a release position wherein the ball is released from the side bore and into the bypass passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: James Edward Atkins, James Andrew Blair Henderson
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Publication number: 20230408144Abstract: A heating system comprising: a liquid supply system; a cell configured to: receive liquid from the liquid supply system, provide heating thereof, and output heated fluid; a work extraction system configured to extract useable work from heated fluid output from the cell; wherein the cell comprises: (i) a housing arranged to define an internal portion for receiving liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to fluid in the internal portion; and wherein the electrodes are configured to apply electrical energy to said fluid in the internal portion to generate one or more bubbles of plasma for releasing energy into said fluid in the internal portion and the housing to provide heating of the fluid in the internal portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Andrew Atkins, Raymond Coles, Bob Dye, Christopher Key, Barry Malizia, Robert Wright
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Publication number: 20230332552Abstract: The split cycle engine of the present disclosure comprises a compression cylinder (10) accommodating a compression piston (12), a combustion cylinder (20) accommodating a combustion piston (22), a recuperator (35) arranged to exchange heat between exhaust fluid (95) from the combustion cylinder and working fluid being supplied from the compression cylinder to the combustion cylinder via a crossover passage (30). A controller is configured to control operation of the engine based on an indication of a temperature of at least one of a material of the recuperator and the working fluid in the crossover passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Nick Owen, Andrew Atkins, Anoop Selvaraj
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Publication number: 20230279804Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprises a combustion cylinder and a compression cylinder arranged to receive air and compress the air to provide a compressed working fluid to the combustion cylinder for combustion. The compression cylinder is coupled to a water reservoir. The engine further comprises a controller arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine and/or a fluid associated therewith, and control delivery of the mass of water delivered to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the total mass of water in the compressed working fluid at the end of the compression stroke results in a level of water concentration in the compressed working fluid that is less than a threshold water concentration level.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Nick Owen, Rhys Pickett, Rob Morgan, Andrew Atkins
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Patent number: 11719177Abstract: The split cycle engine of the present disclosure comprises a compression cylinder (10) accommodating a compression piston (12), a combustion cylinder (20) accommodating a combustion piston (22), a recuperator (35) arranged to exchange heat between exhaust fluid (95) from the combustion cylinder and working fluid being supplied from the compression cylinder to the combustion cylinder via a crossover passage (30). A controller is configured to control operation of the engine based on an indication of a temperature of at least one of a material of the recuperator and the working fluid in the crossover passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Inventors: Nick Owen, Andrew Atkins, Anoop Selvaraj
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Patent number: 11639683Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Inventors: Robert Morgan, James Eatwell, Andrew Atkins, Adam Gurr
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Publication number: 20230030156Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprising a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston; a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston; a crossover passage between the compression cylinder and the combustion cylinder arranged to provide working fluid to the combustion cylinder; a controller arranged to determine a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder based on a received indication of a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder; and a coolant system arranged to regulate a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder; wherein, in response to determining that the peak temperature of combustion exceeds a selected threshold, the controller is configured to control the coolant system to regulate the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder so that a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder is less than the selected threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: Dolphin N2 LimitedInventors: Richard Osborne, Ken Pendlebury, Matthew Keenan, Andrew Atkins, Andrew Ward, Robert Morgan
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Patent number: 11536190Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine apparatus includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The apparatus is arranged to provide compressed fluid to the combustion cylinder. The compression cylinder is coupled to a first liquid coolant reservoir and a second liquid coolant reservoir. A controller is arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine, and control delivery of at least one of the first liquid coolant from the first liquid coolant reservoir and the second liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant reservoir to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the at least one liquid coolant vaporises into a gaseous phase during a compression stroke.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Inventors: Andrew Atkins, Robert Morgan
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Publication number: 20220316386Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: Dolphin N2 LimitedInventors: Robert Morgan, James Eatwell, Andrew Atkins, Adam Gurr
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Patent number: 11428151Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprising a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston; a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston; a crossover passage between the compression cylinder and the combustion cylinder arranged to provide working fluid to the combustion cylinder; a controller arranged to determine a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder based on a received indication of a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder; and a coolant system arranged to regulate a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder; wherein, in response to determining that the peak temperature of combustion exceeds a selected threshold, the controller is configured to control the coolant system to regulate the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder so that a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder is less than the selected threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Inventors: Richard Osborne, Ken Pendlebury, Matthew Keenan, Andrew Atkins, Andrew Ward, Robert Morgan
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Patent number: 11365707Abstract: A liquid coolant injector for injecting a liquid coolant into a cylinder of a split cycle engine, wherein the liquid coolant has been condensed into a liquid phase via a refrigeration process, the injector comprising, a thermally insulating housing, a liquid coolant inlet, a liquid coolant outlet in fluid communication with the liquid coolant inlet via a liquid coolant flow path wherein the liquid coolant flow path extends through the thermally insulating housing, the thermally insulating housing configured to inhibit vaporisation of the liquid coolant within the liquid coolant flow path, a valve closure member, moveable between a first position in which the valve closure member blocks the liquid coolant flow path and a second position in which the liquid coolant may flow from the liquid coolant inlet to the liquid coolant outlet, and, a driver operable to move the valve closure member between the first and second position in response to a control signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Inventors: Andrew Atkins, Robert Morgan, Rhys Pickett
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Publication number: 20220154658Abstract: The split cycle engine of the present disclosure comprises a compression cylinder (10) accommodating a compression piston (12), a combustion cylinder (20) accommodating a combustion piston (22), a recuperator (35) arranged to exchange heat between exhaust fluid (95) from the combustion cylinder and working fluid being supplied from the compression cylinder to the combustion cylinder via a crossover passage (30). A controller is configured to control operation of the engine based on an indication of a temperature of at least one of a material of the recuperator and the working fluid in the crossover passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Nick Owen, Andrew Atkins, Anoop Selvaraj
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Publication number: 20210355861Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine apparatus includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The apparatus is arranged to provide compressed fluid to the combustion cylinder. The compression cylinder is coupled to a first liquid coolant reservoir and a second liquid coolant reservoir. A controller is arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine, and control delivery of at least one of the first liquid coolant from the first liquid coolant reservoir and the second liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant reservoir to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the at least one liquid coolant vaporises into a gaseous phase during a compression stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: Dolphin N2 LimitedInventors: Andrew Atkins, Robert Morgan
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Patent number: 11092066Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine apparatus includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The apparatus is arranged to provide compressed fluid to the combustion cylinder. The compression cylinder is coupled to a first liquid coolant reservoir and a second liquid coolant reservoir. A controller is arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine, and control delivery of at least one of the first liquid coolant from the first liquid coolant reservoir and the second liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant reservoir to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the at least one liquid coolant vaporises into a gaseous phase during a compression stroke.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Inventors: Andrew Atkins, Robert Morgan
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Patent number: 11078829Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Inventors: Robert Morgan, James Eatwell, Andrew Atkins, Adam Gurr
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Publication number: 20210033021Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprising a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston; a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston; a crossover passage between the compression cylinder and the combustion cylinder arranged to provide working fluid to the combustion cylinder; a controller arranged to determine a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder based on a received indication of a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder; and a coolant system arranged to regulate a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder; wherein, in response to determining that the peak temperature of combustion exceeds a selected threshold, the controller is configured to control the coolant system to regulate the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder so that a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder is less than the selected threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2018Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Ricardo UK LimitedInventors: Richard Osborne, Ken Pendlebury, Matthew Keenan, Andrew Atkins, Andrew Ward, Robert Morgan
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Publication number: 20200124003Abstract: A liquid coolant injector for injecting a liquid coolant into a cylinder of a split cycle engine, wherein the liquid coolant has been condensed into a liquid phase via a refrigeration process, the injector comprising, a thermally insulating housing, a liquid coolant inlet, a liquid coolant outlet in fluid communication with the liquid coolant inlet via a liquid coolant flow path wherein the liquid coolant flow path extends through the thermally insulating housing, the thermally insulating housing configured to inhibit vaporisation of the liquid coolant within the liquid coolant flow path, a valve closure member, moveable between a first position in which the valve closure member blocks the liquid coolant flow path and a second position in which the liquid coolant may flow from the liquid coolant inlet to the liquid coolant outlet, and, a driver operable to move the valve closure member between the first and second position in response to a control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Ricardo UK LimitedInventors: Andrew Atkins, Robert Morgan, Rhys Pickett
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Publication number: 20200049058Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine apparatus includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The apparatus is arranged to provide compressed fluid to the combustion cylinder. The compression cylinder is coupled to a first liquid coolant reservoir and a second liquid coolant reservoir. A controller is arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine, and control delivery of at least one of the first liquid coolant from the first liquid coolant reservoir and the second liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant reservoir to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the at least one liquid coolant vaporises into a gaseous phase during a compression stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2018Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: Ricardo UK LimitedInventors: Andrew Atkins, Robert Morgan
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Publication number: 20190368415Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: Ricardo UK LimitedInventors: Robert Morgan, James Eatwell, Andrew Atkins, Adam Gurr
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Patent number: 9273755Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flywheel for energy storage, specifically a method for finely balancing the flywheel during manufacture, the method being especially useful in conjunction with flywheels having a composite construction, and the method also being suitable for simultaneously proving the structural integrity of the flywheel.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Ricardo UK LimitedInventor: Andrew Atkins