Patents by Inventor Daniel W. Dickey

Daniel W. Dickey 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).

  • Patent number: 6637381
    Abstract: A fuel injection system and method to reduce NOx and smoke emissions from a compression ignition engine by co-injecting water and an oxygenated fuel during steady state and transient engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Daniel W. Dickey
  • Publication number: 20030066497
    Abstract: A fuel injection system and method to reduce NOx and smoke emissions from a compression ignition engine by co-injecting water and an oxygenated fuel during steady state and transient engine conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Daniel W. Dickey
  • Patent number: 6460491
    Abstract: Engine operating parameters are monitored during each combustion cycle of a diesel engine, and changes in engine load demand are sensed. In response to sensing a change in engine load demand, an engine operating condition indicative of either a high smoke or a high NOx condition, or both, is determined, and water is co-injected with fuel during the transient period in which there is a high smoke or high NOx condition, or both. The co-injection of water and fuel is terminated when it is determined that there is no longer an engine operating condition during the transient period indicative of either a high smoke or a high NOx condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Daniel W. Dickey
  • Patent number: 6443104
    Abstract: An operating characteristic representative of a first stage reaction in HCCI combustion is sensed and used as a control event for injecting water into the combustion chamber to delay the start of combustion of the primary HCCI reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Stefan Simescu, Thomas W. Ryan, III, Daniel W. Dickey
  • Publication number: 20020073940
    Abstract: An operating characteristic representative of a first stage reaction in HCCI combustion is sensed and used as a control event for injecting water into the combustion chamber to delay the start of combustion of the primary HCCI reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Stefan Simescu, Thomas W. Ryan, Daniel W. Dickey
  • Patent number: 6378489
    Abstract: At least two separate fuels, having different volatility characteristics, are used to control the combustion phasing in a compression ignition engine. Desirably, the separate fuels are produced by distillation by which a parent fuel is separated into separate fractions having different reactivity. The provision multiple fuels by distillation and the control method embodying the present invention are particularly useful in controlling the combustion phasing of homogenous charge compression ignition combustion processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Daniel W. Dickey, Thomas W. Ryan, III, Jeffrey A. Leet, Lee G. Dodge, Matthew E. Schulman
  • Patent number: 6041602
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation pump is used to pump exhaust gas from an exhaust manifold to the intake manifold of an engine. The recirculation pump is hydraulically actuated. The compressor stage of a turbocharger is hydraulically assisted by a hydraulically-driven turbine mechanically connected to the turbocharger compressor stage to provide additional compressed intake airflow during transient engine conditions or during periods when the engine provides low exhaust energy to the gas-driven turbine section of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Daniel W. Dickey
  • Patent number: 5875743
    Abstract: A diesel engine is adapted to operate in a conventional diesel combustion mode within a first speed and load range, and in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode in a second load and speed range. When operating in the homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, the emissions are dramatically reduced, resulting in a significant net reduction in emissions over the total load and speed operating range of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Daniel W. Dickey
  • Patent number: 5832880
    Abstract: A closed-loop control system controls the timing and amount of water injected into a combustion chamber of a homogeneous charge compression ignition diesel engine to regulate the start of combustion during the compression stroke or early in the expansion stroke of each combustion cycle. A sensor is used to detect the start of combustion and deliver a signal to an engine control unit to adjust water injection timing and quantity, on a cycle-by-cycle basis, to obtain the desired start of combustion during each compression stroke of the engine. The present invention effectively overcomes the problem of repeatable and accurate control of the start of combustion in diesel engines operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Daniel W. Dickey
  • Patent number: 5740785
    Abstract: A single exhaust gas recirculation valve selectively provides flow distribution of exhaust gas from an engine manifold to a turbocharger or exhaust gas recirculation system, and simultaneously provides back pressure for driving the recirculated exhaust gas to the intake manifold of the engine when the valve is positioned to recirculate all or part of the exhaust gas. A "wing-type" throttle blade is rotatably positioned within the valve and is selectively positionable between a first blocking position at which the exhaust gas recirculation port is blocked, and a second position at which the flow of exhaust gas to the turbine section of a turbocharger is blocked, as well as intermediate positions between the two blocked positions. The bearings supporting a shaft, to which the throttle blade is attached, are water cooled, as well as a mounting flange and shell surrounding an electric stepper motor coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Daniel W. Dickey, Evan S Guy