Patents by Inventor Gary L. Hunter

Gary L. Hunter 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: 11573108
    Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods for estimating the flow velocity of a fluid in a vessel. Systems and methods are provided herein related to making and/or refining velocity measurements for flowing fluids, both single and multi-phase fluids, in vessels, such as pipes or conduits, utilizing contrast media property agent variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Desmond, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11525719
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for estimating the flow velocity of a multi-phase flow in a pipe using injected microbubbles in combination with ultrasonic signals produced by transducers external to the pipe. The transducers can be located so that one transducer/receiver pair is downstream from a second pair by a separation distance. The receivers can preferably be located in alignment with the transducers for receiving a desirable amount of signal emitted from microbubbles that are excited by absorption of energy from a signal generated by a transducer. The frequency of the signal emitted by the microbubbles can correspond to a harmonic and/or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the signal generated by the transducer. In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, frequencies corresponding to a primary frequency emitted by a transducer can be filtered out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Desmond, Gary L. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20200348250
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time monitoring of electrical discharge events across a tribological contact are provided. The systems comprise a signal generator, a test device comprising a tribological contact, a reference device and a signal comparator. The systems recognize changes between states where electrical discharge across a tribological contact does or does not occur and produce distinct output signals for each state and, further, may maintain a count of how often such events occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Gary L. Hunter, Jonathan Pita, Peter W. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20200271497
    Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods for estimating the flow velocity of a fluid in a vessel. Systems and methods are provided herein related to making and/or refining velocity measurements for flowing fluids, both single and multi-phase fluids, in vessels, such as pipes or conduits, utilizing contrast media property agent variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: KENNETH W. DESMOND, GARY L. HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20200271498
    Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods for estimating the flow velocity of a fluid in a vessel. Systems and methods are provided herein related to making and/or refining velocity measurements for flowing fluids, both single and multi-phase fluids, in vessels, such as pipes or conduits, utilizing contrast media property agent variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: KENNETH W. DESMOND, GARY L. HUNTER
  • Patent number: 10662903
    Abstract: A powertrain system is provided and may include a combustion engine, a crankshaft, and a turbo-compounding system. The combustion engine may include an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. The crankshaft may be driven by the engine. The turbo-compounding system may be configured to drive the crankshaft and may include a first turbine and a drive system. The first turbine may include an inlet fluidly communicating with the exhaust manifold. The drive system may include an input shaft driven by the first turbine, and an output shaft engaged with the crankshaft. The drive system may be configured to drive the output shaft at more than one drive ratio relative to the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav R. Johnson, Gary L. Hunter, Julian Sherborne
  • Publication number: 20190154479
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for estimating the flow velocity of a multi-phase flow using signals of different frequencies. The signals can correspond to any convenient type of signal that interacts with contrast agents in the multi-phase flow, such as acoustic signals or electromagnetic signals. The signal emitters can be located so that one emitter/receiver pair is downstream from a second pair by a separation distance. The receivers can preferably be located in sufficient alignment with the emitters to receive a transmitted portion of the emitter signal after any scattering or attenuation from the contrast agents in the multi-phase fluid. The emitters can be configured to generate signals of different frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Desmond, Gary L. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20190154482
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for estimating the flow velocity of a multi-phase flow in a pipe using injected microbubbles in combination with ultrasonic signals produced by transducers external to the pipe. The transducers can be located so that one transducer/receiver pair is downstream from a second pair by a separation distance. The receivers can preferably be located in alignment with the transducers for receiving a desirable amount of signal emitted from microbubbles that are excited by absorption of energy from a signal generated by a transducer. The frequency of the signal emitted by the microbubbles can correspond to a harmonic and/or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the signal generated by the transducer. In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, frequencies corresponding to a primary frequency emitted by a transducer can be filtered out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Desmond, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10161270
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for an engine is disclosed. In one example, the waste heat recovery system includes an expander, a first heat exchanger system, and a second heat exchanger system. The expander is configured to convert waste heat from a working fluid into mechanical energy. The first heat exchanger system is in fluid communication with the expander, the first heat exchanger system disposed upstream of the expander. The second heat exchanger system is in fluid communication with the expander and is disposed upstream of the expander and arranged in parallel with the first heat exchanger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gary L. Hunter, Gustav R. Johnson, Nicholas Michael Zayan
  • Patent number: 10161371
    Abstract: A piston may include an outer peripheral surface and a crown. The outer peripheral surface may include first and second openings spaced about and extending through the outer peripheral surface. The crown may include a recess at least partially defined by a first lobe in fluid communication with the first opening and a second lobe in fluid communication with the second opening. Each of the first and second lobes may be recessed relative to an adjacent portion of the recess of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav R. Johnson, Gary L. Hunter, Darrell Sparks
  • Patent number: 10072562
    Abstract: A turbo-compounding system may include a first turbine, a turbocharger, a bypass passageway and a valve. The first turbine may include an inlet in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold and an outlet in fluid communication with a fluid passageway. The first turbine may be drivingly coupled to an engine. The turbocharger includes a first compressor and a second turbine. The first compressor receives an intake fluid at a first pressure and discharges the intake fluid at a second pressure. The second turbine may drive the first compressor and receive exhaust gas from the fluid passageway downstream of the outlet of the first turbine. The bypass passageway may include a first end fluidly coupled with the engine exhaust manifold and a second end fluidly coupled with the fluid passageway downstream from the first turbine and upstream of the second turbine. The valve controls fluid-flow through the bypass passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gary L. Hunter, Gustav R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10072604
    Abstract: An opposed-piston engine assembly is disclosed including a first cylinder liner containing a pair of first pistons that move toward one another in one mode of operation and away from one another in another mode of operation. The pistons are coupled to first and second crankshafts. Multiple block segments arranged in a side-by-side abutting relationship form the engine block including a first outboard segment, a first inboard segment, a second inboard segment, and a second outboard segment. Tensile members extend through the block segments tying them together as one structural unit. The first and second inboard segments abut one another at a seam and include bores that cooperate to receive the first cylinder liner. The first cylinder liner includes a liner support collar that is received in counter-bores defined by the first and second inboard segments at the seam between the first and second inboard segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: James Mc Clearen, Jeffrey Wayne Klaver, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10066590
    Abstract: An opposed piston engine may include a first housing, first and second pistons, and first, second, and third fuel injector nozzles. The first housing may define a first passage extending along a first longitudinal axis. The first and second pistons may be slidably disposed within the first passage. The first, second, and third fuel injector nozzles may be in fluid communication with the first passage. At least one of the first, second, and third fuel injector nozzles may be angularly offset from another one of the first, second, and third fuel injector nozzles by an oblique angle about the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav R. Johnson, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10036344
    Abstract: An example of a cylinder liner according to the present disclosure includes a first portion having a first end and a second end and a second portion having a first end and a second end. The second portion is separate from the first portion and the second end of the first portion overlays the first end of the second portion. The first portion and the second portion are configured to receive a piston slideably disposed within the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: James Mc Clearen, Jeffrey Wayne Klaver, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9903270
    Abstract: An opposed-piston, two-stroke engine is provided and includes a first cylinder having a first longitudinal axis and a first pair of pistons slidably disposed within the first cylinder and movable toward one another in a first mode of operation and away from one another in a second mode of operation. The engine additionally includes a second cylinder having a second longitudinal axis and a second pair of pistons slidably disposed within the second cylinder and movable toward one another in the first mode of operation and away from one another in the second mode of operation. A crankshaft is connected to at least one of the first pair of pistons and at least one of the second pair of pistons and has an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is disposed between and is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: James McClearen, Jeffrey Wayne Klaver, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9840998
    Abstract: An engine control system includes first and second control modules. The first control module determines a fuel combustion parameter. The second control module determines a fuel delivery parameter based on the fuel combustion parameter. The fuel combustion parameter includes at least one of (i) a total amount of heat released by a volume of fuel during a combustion cycle and (ii) a rate at which heat is released during the combustion cycle. The fuel delivery parameter includes at least one of (i) a duration of time over which the volume of fuel is delivered to a cylinder, (ii) a time at which a fuel injector starts delivering the volume of fuel to the cylinder, and (iii) a fuel pressure in a fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav R. Johnson, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9771861
    Abstract: In one configuration, the present disclosure provides a cylinder including a first housing, a second housing, and an insert. The first housing includes a first body portion and a first collar portion. The first body portion has a first inner diameter, and the first collar portion has a second inner diameter that is greater than the first inner diameter. The second housing includes a second body portion and a second collar portion. The second body portion has a third inner diameter and the second collar portion has a fourth inner diameter that is greater than the third inner diameter. The second housing is coupled to the first housing such that the first and second collared portions cooperate to form an annular channel. The insert is disposed within the annular channel formed by the first and second collared portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: James McClearen, Gary L. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20170067371
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for an engine is disclosed. In one example, the waste heat recovery system includes an expander, a first heat exchanger system, and a second heat exchanger system. The expander is configured to convert waste heat from a working fluid into mechanical energy. The first heat exchanger system is in fluid communication with the expander, the first heat exchanger system disposed upstream of the expander. The second heat exchanger system is in fluid communication with the expander and is disposed upstream of the expander and arranged in parallel with the first heat exchanger system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Gary L. HUNTER, Gustav R. JOHNSON, Nicholas Michael ZAYAN
  • Publication number: 20160252053
    Abstract: A powertrain system is provided and may include a combustion engine, a crankshaft, and a turbo-compounding system. The combustion engine may include an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. The crankshaft may be driven by the engine. The turbo-compounding system may be configured to drive the crankshaft and may include a first turbine and a drive system. The first turbine may include an inlet fluidly communicating with the exhaust manifold. The drive system may include an input shaft driven by the first turbine, and an output shaft engaged with the crankshaft. The drive system may be configured to drive the output shaft at more than one drive ratio relative to the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Gustav R. JOHNSON, Gary L. HUNTER, Julian SHERBORNE
  • Publication number: 20160252009
    Abstract: A turbo-compounding system may include a first turbine, a turbocharger, a bypass passageway and a valve. The first turbine may include an inlet in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold and an outlet in fluid communication with a fluid passageway. The first turbine may be drivingly coupled to an engine. The turbocharger includes a first compressor and a second turbine. The first compressor receives an intake fluid at a first pressure and discharges the intake fluid at a second pressure. The second turbine may drive the first compressor and receive exhaust gas from the fluid passageway downstream of the outlet of the first turbine. The bypass passageway may include a first end fluidly coupled with the engine exhaust manifold and a second end fluidly coupled with the fluid passageway downstream from the first turbine and upstream of the second turbine. The valve controls fluid-flow through the bypass passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Gary L. HUNTER, Gustav R. JOHNSON