Patents by Inventor David P. Branyon
David P. Branyon 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: 9803571Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of gaseous fuel delivered to the engine. At operating conditions that result in an equivalence ratio below a predetermined threshold (which typically occur at mid or part loads), it is determined whether better performance and/or lower emissions can be achieved by reducing gaseous fuel to some cylinders and increasing gaseous fuel to others. Typically, the gaseous fuel is reduced to zero to a number of cylinders and increased to others, with the increase resulting in an equivalence ratio that will provide improved emissions and efficiency and the desired engine output.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: John C. Hedrick, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan, Jeremy D. Eubanks, Ryan C. Roecker, Garrett L. Anderson
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Publication number: 20170211490Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of gaseous fuel delivered to the engine. At operating conditions that result in an equivalence ratio below a predetermined threshold (which typically occur at mid or part loads), it is determined whether better performance and/or lower emissions can be achieved by reducing gaseous fuel to some cylinders and increasing gaseous fuel to others. Typically, the gaseous fuel is reduced to zero to a number of cylinders and increased to others, with the increase resulting in an equivalence ratio that will provide improved emissions and efficiency and the desired engine output.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: John C. Hedrick, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan, Jeremy D. Eubanks, Ryan C. Roecker, Garrett L. Anderson
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Patent number: 9518516Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of diesel fuel delivered to the engine. The method compensates for the poor transient response of gaseous fueling. A controller receives a signal from the operator of the engine representing a desired torque, and based on this signal, determines a desired intake manifold state. It generates commands to various actuators to control the intake air and the intake gaseous fuel such that the desired intake manifold state will occur. The controller also receives sensor data from which the current in-cylinder state can be measured or estimated. It determines a current amount of diesel fuel based on the desired torque, the engine speed and the current in-cylinder state, and generates a diesel fueling command.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Ryan C. Roecker, Jayant V. Sarlashkar, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan
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Publication number: 20160201592Abstract: A method, used with dual-fuel engine, of controlling the amount of diesel fuel delivered to the engine. The method compensates for the poor transient response of gaseous fueling. A controller receives a signal from the operator of the engine representing a desired torque, and based on this signal, determines a desired intake manifold state. It generates commands to various actuators to control the intake air and the intake gaseous fuel such that the desired intake manifold state will occur. The controller also receives sensor data from which the current in-cylinder state can be measured or estimated. It determines a current amount of diesel fuel based on the desired torque, the engine speed and the current in-cylinder state, and generates a diesel fueling command.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Ryan C. Roecker, Jayant V. Sarlashkar, David P. Branyon, Timothy J. Callahan
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Patent number: 9162280Abstract: A hybrid ceramic/sand casting method of manufacturing a metal part. The method is especially suitable for manufacturing engine cylinder blocks or cylinder head, which have very small internal passages or other very small internal features. These parts are formed using a hybrid core having at least one ceramic section and at least one sand section, with the ceramic section being used to create the internal feature. A mold cavity is created for the part, and the hybrid core is positioned in the mold. Molten metal is introduced into the mold, and after the metal cools, the core is removed, thereby forming the part with the internal feature.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Barry E. Westmoreland, Douglas A. McKee, Marc C. Megel, Mark A. Tussing, Thomas E. Reinhart, David P. Branyon
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Publication number: 20150027658Abstract: A hybrid ceramic/sand casting method of manufacturing a metal part. The method is especially suitable for manufacturing engine cylinder blocks or cylinder head, which have very small internal passages or other very small internal features. These parts are formed using a hybrid core having at least one ceramic section and at least one sand section, with the ceramic section being used to create the internal feature. A mold cavity is created for the part, and the hybrid core is positioned in the mold. Molten metal is introduced into the mold, and after the metal cools, the core is removed, thereby forming the part with the internal feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Barry E. Westmoreland, Douglas A. McKee, Marc C. Megel, Mark A. Tussing, Thomas E. Reinhart, David P. Branyon
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Patent number: 8807099Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes an expander, the expander including an expansion piston received within an expansion cylinder. A compressor includes a compression piston received within a compression cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the compression cylinder. A boosting device providing a 1.7 bar absolute or greater boost pressure level is connected to the intake manifold. An intake valve is disposed between the intake manifold and the compression cylinder. The intake valve closing is timed to provide a compressor volumetric efficiency of 0.75 or greater. A compressor displacement volume is sized relative to an expander displacement volume such that the combination of compressor displacement volume and boost pressure level provides an expander volumetric efficiency relative to ambient conditions that is 0.90 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Kevin L. Hoag, Salvatore C. Scuderi
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Publication number: 20120073551Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes an expander, the expander including an expansion piston received within an expansion cylinder. A compressor includes a compression piston received within a compression cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the compression cylinder. A boosting device providing a 1.7 bar absolute or greater boost pressure level is connected to the intake manifold. An intake valve is disposed between the intake manifold and the compression cylinder. The intake valve closing is timed to provide a compressor volumetric efficiency of 0.75 or greater. A compressor displacement volume is sized relative to an expander displacement volume such that the combination of compressor displacement volume and boost pressure level provides an expander volumetric efficiency relative to ambient conditions that is 0.90 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: SCUDERI GROUP, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Kevin L. Hoag, Salvatore C. Scuderi
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Patent number: 8006656Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Patent number: 7954461Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Patent number: 7954463Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Patent number: 7810459Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2009Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090283061Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090272368Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090241926Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: SCUDERI GROUP, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090241927Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090229587Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Patent number: 7588001Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLCInventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090199829Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks
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Publication number: 20090150060Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2009Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: David P. Branyon, Jeremy D. Eubanks