Patents by Inventor Derek A. Splitter

Derek A. Splitter 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: 11325206
    Abstract: A method for preparing metal/metal interpenetrating phase composites is provided. The method includes forming a preform using additive manufacturing. The preform defines a materially continuous three-dimensional open-cell mesh structure. The preform includes a first metal having a melting point. The method further includes pre-heating the preform to a first temperature less than the melting point of the first metal. The method includes infiltrating the preform with a second metal in liquid form. The second metal has a melting point lower than the melting point of the first metal. The method also includes allowing the second metal to cool and form a solid matrix. The solid matrix defines a continuous material network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Alex E. Pawlowski, Amit Shyam, Derek A. Splitter, Amelia M. Elliott, Zachary C. Cordero
  • Publication number: 20190321915
    Abstract: A method for preparing metal/metal interpenetrating phase composites is provided. The method includes forming a preform using additive manufacturing. The preform defines a materially continuous three-dimensional open-cell mesh structure. The preform includes a first metal having a melting point. The method further includes pre-heating the preform to a first temperature less than the melting point of the first metal. The method includes infiltrating the preform with a second metal in liquid form. The second metal has a melting point lower than the melting point of the first metal. The method also includes allowing the second metal to cool and form a solid matrix. The solid matrix defines a continuous material network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Alex E. Pawlowski, Amit Shyam, Derek A. Splitter, Amelia M. Elliott, Zachary C. Cordero
  • Patent number: 9850812
    Abstract: A compression ignition (diesel) engine uses two or more fuel charges during a combustion cycle, with the fuel charges having two or more reactivities (e.g., different cetane numbers), in order to control the timing and duration of combustion. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot). At low load and no load (idling) conditions, the aforementioned results are attained by restricting airflow to the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (as by throttling the incoming air at or prior to the combustion chamber's intake port) so that the cylinder air pressure is below ambient pressure at the start of the compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage Kokjohn
  • Patent number: 9376955
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower-reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Publication number: 20150292391
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower-reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Patent number: 9080501
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower-reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Publication number: 20150034045
    Abstract: A compression ignition (diesel) engine uses two or more fuel charges during a combustion cycle, with the fuel charges having two or more reactivities (e.g., different cetane numbers), in order to control the timing and duration of combustion. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot). At low load and no load (idling) conditions, the aforementioned results are attained by restricting airflow to the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (as by throttling the incoming air at or prior to the combustion chamber's intake port) so that the cylinder air pressure is below ambient pressure at the start of the compression stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage Kokjohn
  • Patent number: 8851045
    Abstract: A compression ignition (diesel) engine uses two or more fuel charges during a combustion cycle, with the fuel charges having two or more reactivities (e.g., different cetane numbers), in order to control the timing and duration of combustion. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot). At low load and no load (idling) conditions, the aforementioned results are attained by restricting airflow to the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (as by throttling the incoming air at or prior to the combustion chamber's intake port) so that the cylinder air pressure is below ambient pressure at the start of the compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Publication number: 20140102406
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower-reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Patent number: 8616177
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower-reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Publication number: 20120247421
    Abstract: A compression ignition (diesel) engine uses two or more fuel charges during a combustion cycle, with the fuel charges having two or more reactivities (e.g., different cetane numbers), in order to control the timing and duration of combustion. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot). At low load and no load (idling) conditions, the aforementioned results are attained by restricting airflow to the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (as by throttling the incoming air at or prior to the combustion chamber's intake port) so that the cylinder air pressure is below ambient pressure at the start of the compression stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn
  • Publication number: 20110192367
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower-reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Reed M. Hanson, Derek A. Splitter, Sage L. Kokjohn